Major new procurements have been announced at the NATO Alliance’s Defence Industry Forum – which will boost defence production and innovation across the Alliance and provide new capabilities to strengthen NATO’s deterrence and defence.
Speaking on the first day of the Summit, in the Turkish capital, Ankara, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte made three major procurement announcements:
- The delivery of the 10th Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft to the Multinational Multi-Role Tanker Transport Fleet
- The procurement of Northrop Grumman Triton uncrewed aircraft to enhance NATO’s maritime surveillance
- The joint procurement of Saab GlobalEye aircraft to modernise NATO’s airborne early warning and control capabilities.
The Forum brought together Allied ministers, senior officials, and representatives from over 100 companies to translate the defence investment commitments made in The Hague last year into concrete capabilities and industrial output. “The money is there, and more is coming” Mr. Rutte said, while calling on governments and industry to, “…do more, faster, together.”
‘Front Door for Industry’
The Secretary General also unveiled the NATO Drone Edge initiative, which will significantly increase investment in counter-drone systems and expand the training of drone operators.
The Secretary General also launched new NATO initiatives, including the ‘Front Door for Industry’ – a new platform designed to simplify how companies engage with NATO – and the release of NATO’s first public unclassified demand signal, to give industry greater visibility of Allied capability requirements.
Mr. Rutte also launched the NATO Engine, aimed at expanding production capacity by connecting defence and civilian manufacturing lines across the Alliance.
Also at the Forum, NATO Deputy Secretary General, Radmila Shekerinska, announced a number of major initiatives in the areas of space and surveillance, strike capabilities, and integrated air and missile defence.
IMAGE: Courtesy NATO
