NEW STEP IN THE STRATEGIC 
AIRLIFT CAPABILITY PROJECT   
 
The Defence Ministers of the Strategic Airlift 
Capability nations met at NATO Headquarters to review progress and map the way 
forward to meet the goal of receiving the first aircraft in November 2008.  
The fifteen SAC nations, including two Partner 
nations[1], have agreed to purchase 3 C-17 strategic airlift 
aircraft for use by participating nations to meet national airlift requirements, 
including for NATO and EU missions. 
Today’s meeting was highlighted by the 
signature of the Netherlands of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to 
govern the purchase and operation of the aircraft. 
Slovenia and the United Stated announced that they 
have also recently signed the MOU. These nations joined 
Bulgaria, 
Hungary, 
Lithuania and 
Sweden who had previously signed. Other SAC 
nations are in the process of national procedures for approval and signature of 
the MOU and are expected to join the signatories by the end of 
June.
The Strategic Airlift Capability fleet will 
be based at Papa Airbase in Hungary and managed by the NATO Airlift Management 
Organisation. The current planning calls for delivery of the first aircraft in 
November 2008 with delivery of aircraft 2 and 3 in early and mid 2009 
respectively.  
When fielded the SAC will provide a critical capability 
and address a serious shortfall in national airlift capabilities.  The organization remains open to other 
nations 
For more information on the SAC please contact, Mr. 
James Lovell, Defence Investment Division, NATO HQ, +32.2.707.4763. 
 __________________
 The fifteen nations comprising the 
Strategic Airlift Capability are Bulgaria, the 
Czech 
Republic, 
Estonia, 
Finland, 
Hungary, 
Italy, 
Latvia, 
Lithuania, the 
Netherlands, 
Norway, 
Poland, 
Romania, 
Slovenia, 
Sweden and the 
United 
States.