“Air power continuously needs fuel”, said Lieutenant-Colonel Harry Oostema, Head of Operations at Eindhoven Air Base. However, delivering a guaranteed, continuous coverage of air-to-air refueling capacity is challenging. “That’s why we need to train together. The European air-to-air refuelling Training (EART 2018) at Eindhoven air base provides us with that unique opportunity”, Lieutenant-Colonel Oostema stressed.
“For two weeks Eindhoven air base was the tanker town of Europe”.
The European Air-to-Air Refuelling Training (EART) concept was introduced in 2014 under the European Defence Agency’s (EDA) air-to-air refuelling initiative, and is run by the European Air Transport Command (EATC) from Eindhoven airbase. The exercise is supported by the host nation (the Netherlands), the Eindhoven-based Movement Coordination Centre Europe (MCCE) and EDA.
EART is organised on a yearly basis in combination with the ‘Frisian Flag’ fighter training exercise, also organized by the Netherlands, that operates from Leeuwarden Airbase. The objective is to train air crews and engineers in planning and executing complex air-to-air refuelling (AAR) operations in a multinational and realistic COMAO (composite air operation) environment, with the overall aim of enhancing effectiveness and interoperability of forces. A particular focus is also put on facilitating the certification processes between tankers and receiver aircraft. The exercise director for EART 2018 is Colonel Andrea Massucci (Italian Air Force).
Background: EDA’s global approach on AAR
EDA has developed a global approach on AAR with three objectives: optimizing the use of assets, increasing the overall AAR capacity and reducing fragmentation of the fleet.
This work has led to three complementary work-strands, on some of which EDA is cooperating closely with other agencies and organizations like OCCAR, the Movement Coordination Center Europe (MCCE) and the European Air Transport Command (EATC).
EART 2018 is part of the first work strand (optimization of existing capabilities), which is achieved by supporting training exercises. In this domain, EDA has also taken the lead to streamline the different certification processes leading to a clearance. By standardizing these processes the different aviation authorities can easily identify the differences between their own process and their counterpart. By working closely together, already fielded capabilities and future capabilities, can work more cost efficiently and increase their operational output.
“Air-to-air refueling (AAR) capacity is the backbone of modern day air power. Without it, we don’t do much. Air power needs its fuel,” said Lieutenant- colonel Harry Oostema, Head of Operations at Eindhoven air base at the opening of the European Air-to-Air Refuelling Training (EART 2018) exercise on 9 April 2018 in Eindhoven.
The goal of AAR operations is to enhance combat effectiveness by extending the range, payload and endurance of receiver aircraft. It allows air power to be projected at greater distances or concentrated where and when it is needed mostly. The primary effect of providing additional fuel to
airborne aircraft is spatial and temporal extension of air capabilities. This confirms AAR as a significant force enabler and multiplier.
“Delivering a guaranteed, continuous coverage of air-to-air refueling capacity is challenging. That’s why we need to train together. During the European Air-to-air refuelling Training (EART) at Eindhoven air base in the Netherlands, we have that unique opportunity”, Lieutnant-Colonel
Oostema stated.
EART 2018 is a dedicated AAR focused multinational training for tanker, air and maintenance crews. It provides the nations with an excellent opportunity to train their air crews in planning and executing missions within complex and realistic multinational scenarios they are not exposed to in peacetime AAR operations.
The exercise is in support of the multinational fighter exercise Frisian Flag that concurrently takes
place from Leeuwarden air base also in the Netherlands. With over 70 (fighter) aircraft participating
in Frisian Flag, EART 2018 provides the participating Nations an unique opportunity to train their tanker crews and increase the interoperability and standardization. No other exercise focusses solely on AAR like EART. EART 2018 is the fifth edition of this multinational training and runs from 9 – 20 April 2018. “For two weeks Eindhoven air base will be the Tanker Town of Europe”, said Lieutnant-Colonel Oostema.
The European Air Transport Command (EATC) based on Eindhoven, is the driving force behind EART 2018 with Eindhoven air base being the Host Nation and having the role of Project Leader.
NATO’s air campaigns in Kosovo and Libya have identified air-to-air refueling as a critical shortfall in
European military capabilities. Individual Allies, as well as NATO and the EU, have been working to
address this shortfall. That is why NATO and the European Union initiated a major boost to the ability to refuel aircraft with the new Multinational Multi Role Tanker Transport Unit (MMU) that will be operating from Main Operating Base Eindhoven Air Base (Netherlands) and a Forward Operating Base in Cologne (Germany).
Source: https://eda.europa.eu
Other Exercise covered in 2018: TLP 2018-4