NATO unveils air‑tanker fleet expansion and $40 bn anti‑drone plan at Ankara forum

At a defence industry forum in Ankara, NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte announced a set of new large‑scale projects. He recalled that "a year ago at The Hague, partner countries pledged to spend five percent of GDP on defence and security by 2035" and added, "we have much to show now. Today and tomorrow we will sign several billion‑dollar deals".

The announced initiatives include an in‑flight refuelling platform and the enlargement of the NATO multinational Multi‑Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) fleet, with Finland joining the nine‑nation group that already comprises Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. The fleet is set to receive its tenth Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft shortly, nearing full 12‑aircraft capacity.

A further commitment concerns anti‑drone capabilities, with more than $40 billion earmarked over the next five years to multiply the number of drone operators fivefold by the end of 2027. NATO will establish a market for certified anti‑drone systems and expand the NATO Flight Training Europe (NFTE) programme, now involving Finland, France and Sweden and bringing the participating nations to twenty.