NATO AN-124 transports medical supplies to Eastern Europe
A NATO-operated Antonov An-124 transport aircraft has transported 48t of medical supplies to Bratislava Airport from Tianjin, China.
The medical supplies are being sent to Romania to help the country tackle the coronavirus outbreak. An additional 45t of medical equipment is due to arrive in Bucharest from South Korea on 26 March.
The An-124 is part of the NATO Strategic Airlift International Solution (SALIS) programme.
The alliance has several shared An-124 aircraft which have previously been used to transport personnel and supplies to bases in Afghanistan and Kosovo, as well as for humanitarian missions in Haiti and Pakistan.
Alongside the AN-124, NATO allies jointly operate three Boeing C-17 Globemaster IIIs as part of its Strategic Airlift Capability.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Defence Notes
-
![Top-level commitments but no meat in UK Defence Industrial Strategy’s Statement of Intent]()
Top-level commitments but no meat in UK Defence Industrial Strategy’s Statement of Intent
The initial document focused more on creating the right partnerships and inspiring investment in defence than on any details of how future UK Armed Forces would be armed.
-
![UK begins process on new industrial strategy]()
UK begins process on new industrial strategy
The first stage of developing a new UK Defence Industrial Strategy has highlighted failings in current structures with solutions expected to be proposed in next year’s full strategy.
-
![Romanians put pro-Russian candidate into presidential runoff even as the government spends west]()
Romanians put pro-Russian candidate into presidential runoff even as the government spends west
Romania joined NATO more than two decades ago and the country is vital to the alliance’s geographic reach and its ability to supply Ukraine with weapons.
-
![What the future holds for Ukraine and NATO under a Trump administration]()
What the future holds for Ukraine and NATO under a Trump administration
Although Trump’s geopolitics policy for Europe remains unclear, defence analysts from the US and Europe predict how his incoming administration would attempt to handle critical issues on the continent.
-
![RUSI deputy: UK needs longer procurement plans and improved awareness of US sift to Indo-Pacific]()
RUSI deputy: UK needs longer procurement plans and improved awareness of US sift to Indo-Pacific
The UK budget announced in Parliament on 30 October was the first by a Labour government in 14 years which has also launched a review into defence procurement programmes.
-
![Australia outlines longer punch and brings local industry onboard]()
Australia outlines longer punch and brings local industry onboard
The Australian government has placed a focus on Guided Weapons and Explosive Ordnance (GWEO) which has included the purchase of additional long-range rocket systems and investments in local production of missiles.
