NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte revealed new defense initiatives at the Defense Industry Forum in Ankara, Turkey. He highlighted the commitment made by allies to invest 5% in defense and security by 2035, emphasizing increased production and innovation. The projects unveiled include an in-flight refueling platform and enhanced equipment mobility across the Alliance involving multiple allies.
Rutte also mentioned plans for over $40 billion investment in anti-drone capabilities over the next five years, aiming to significantly increase the number of drone operators by 2027. NATO will establish an anti-drone capability market for rapid procurement of tested systems meeting NATO standards. Additionally, the NATO Support and Procurement Agency awarded a contract for surveillance drones worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Among the initiatives announced was Finland’s participation in the Multi-Role Tanker Transport fleet, with plans for the delivery of the tenth Airbus A330 MRTT. The forum also saw the expansion of training programs for drone operators through the NATO Flight Training Europe initiative, with new members joining to enhance flight personnel training.
