Reference News Network, November 14 report - According to AFP, November 13 report, NATO countries had originally planned to purchase Boeing airborne early warning aircraft made in the United States to replace the aging NATO airborne early warning fleet, but the Netherlands said on the 13th that after Washington withdrew, NATO countries have abandoned the plan.
NATO announced in 2023 that its member states planned to purchase six Boeing E-7 "Wedgetail" airborne early warning aircraft, which would be one of the largest joint purchases by NATO countries, aimed at strengthening the defense against Russia.
However, the Dutch Ministry of Defense stated that after the United States withdrew from the plan this July, the alliance composed of six NATO countries has now decided not to purchase Boeing airborne early warning aircraft.
The report said that this move opens the door for NATO countries to purchase European-made airborne early warning aircraft. With doubts about whether the support from the Trump-led United States is reliable, U.S. allies are seeking to strengthen their own manufacturers.
Dutch State Secretary of Defense Hies Theineman said: "The withdrawal of the United States shows how important it is to invest as much as possible in European industry."
The current NATO airborne early warning fleet, known as the "eyes in the sky" of NATO, will reach the end of its service life in 2035.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on the 13th that he "will do everything possible to ensure that we speed up the decision on what plane will replace these airborne early warning aircraft."
The airborne early warning aircraft are concentrated at the German airbase of Gelnhausen and the intelligence obtained is shared among the 32 NATO member states. (Translated by Hu Xue)
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