EU Strategic Airlift Reserve (#EUStratAR) would advance the transport of military forces and equipment across Europe. The new concept envisions a fleet of EU civilian planes and crews that can be used to support military operations in times of crisis. How to turn it into reality was a topic we discussed at a recent Military Airlift and Air-to-Air Refuelling conference.
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/european ... 35840-Kpf8A study is planned to start in spring 2026 to assess operational, legal, and financial aspects of EUStratAR, with EDA underseeing the process.
Proposal for a regulation
Military Mobility - Regulation
https://defence-industry-space.ec.europ ... ulation_en
- Staff Working Document on Military Mobility, accompanying the Proposal
https://defence-industry-space.ec.europ ... osal_0.pdfIn support of long-term resilience, the EDA presented a draft Food for Thought Paper on an EU Strategic Airlift Reserve, promoting the “whole of society” defence principles outlined in the White Paper for European Defence-Readiness 2030. This concept foresees the potential employment of a EU Civilian Reserve Air Fleet to mitigate current heavy airlift shortfalls and address identified challenges.
Ein Äquivalent dazu gibt es in den USA schon seit Jahrzehnten:
Civil Reserve Air Fleet
A unique and significant part of the nation's air mobility resources is the Civil Reserve Air Fleet, or CRAF. Selected aircraft from U.S. airlines, contractually committed to CRAF, augment Department of Defense airlift requirements in emergencies when the need for airlift exceeds the capability of military aircraft.
The CRAF has two main segments: international and national. The international segment is further divided into the long-range and short-range sections and the national segment satisfies domestic requirements. Assignment of aircraft to a segment depends on the nature of the requirement and the performance characteristics needed.
The long-range international section consists of passenger and cargo aircraft capable of transoceanic operations. The role of these aircraft is to augment the Air Mobility Command's long-range intertheater C-5s and C-17s during periods of increased airlift needs, from minor contingencies up through full national defense emergencies.
Medium-sized passenger and cargo aircraft make up the short-range international section supporting near offshore and select intra-theater airlift requirements.
The airlines contractually pledge aircraft to the various segments of CRAF, ready for activation when needed. To provide incentives for civil carriers to commit aircraft to the CRAF program and to assure the United States of adequate airlift reserves, the government makes peacetime DOD airlift business available to civilian airlines that offer aircraft to the CRAF. DOD offers business through the CRAF Charter Airlift Services contract.
To participate in the international segments of CRAF, carriers must maintain a minimum commitment of 30 percent of its CRAF capable passenger fleet and 15 percent of its CRAF capable cargo fleet. Aircraft committed must be U.S.-registered and carriers must commit and maintain at least four complete crews for each aircraft.
Carriers with aircraft whose performance does not meet minimum CRAF requirements are issued a certificate of technical ineligibility so they can still compete for government airlift business.
As of June 2014, 24 carriers and 553 aircraft are enrolled in CRAF. This includes 517 aircraft in the international segment with 391 in the long-range international section and 126 in the short-range international section. There are 36 aircraft in the national segment. These numbers are subject to change on a monthly basis.
https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets ... air-fleet/The following air carriers are members of the Civil Reserve Air Fleet (subject to change monthly)
International Segment - Long Range Section:
ABX Air
Air Transport International
American Airlines
Atlas Air
Delta Air Lines
Federal Express Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines
Kalitta Air Cargo
National Air Cargo Group dba National Airlines
Omni Air International
Polar Air Cargo
Sky Lease I
Southern Air
United Air Lines
United Parcel Service
US Airways
International Segment - Short Range Section:
Alaska Airlines
American Airlines
Delta Air Lines
Jet Blue Airways
Lynden Air Cargo
Miami Air International
MN Airlines dba Sun Country
Northern Air Cargo
United Air Lines
National Segment - Domestic Section:
Allegiant Air
Southwest Airlines
https://www.amc.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sh ... air-fleet/
Part 243 - DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE RATEMAKING PROCEDURES FOR CIVIL RESERVE AIR FLEET CONTRACTS
https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/CFR ... l2-part243
