NATO allies agree on joint airlift capability

摘要

NATO allies agreed on 20 June to establish a joint airlift capability based around three to four C-17A Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft.rnNews of the accord will be welcomed by Boeing, which has already started building three aircraft in anticipation of the deal and had meanwhile instructed its C-17 subcontractors to begin manufacturing long-lead items for the aircraft in anticipation of a US Air Force (USAF) order for another 10. That move came only three months after the company called a stop to the manufacture of long-lead items for the C-17.rnThe Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) initiative involves 15 NATO nations (Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and the US) along with two Partnership for Peace nations (Sweden and Finland). SAC membership, however, remains open to other nations.