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Apr 17 2020

COVID-19 missions: SAC airlifts several tons of medical supplies in Bulgaria

Pápa (Hungary), 17 April 2020 – In the morning of 17 April, a C-17 cargo aircraft arrived in Sofia, Bulgaria, with more than 20 tons of medical assets, including Personal Protective Equipment, diagnostic kits, masks and medicines, purchased by the Bulgarian government to tackle the COVID-19 crisis.

The mission was conducted by the Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) upon request of an Emergency Response Mission by Bulgaria. This flight constitutes the fifth SAC mission in response to the COVID-19 crisis since the end of March.

The Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) deliveries and the Strategic Airlift International Solution (SALIS) missions confirms the value of strategic airlift capabilities. When commercial airlines might have limitations both in capacity and viability, military airlift and multinational cooperation ensures that nations obtain required cargo from anywhere in the world in a time of crisis.

A total of 12 missions have been completed so far by NATO nations making use of the flying hours as participating members of SAC or SALIS programmes.

About Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC)

The Strategic Airlift Capability is a multinational programme that provides assured access to strategic military airlift capability for its 12 member nations, Bulgaria, Finland, Hungary, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Sweden, and the United States of America.

The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) manages the full life cycle management of the three Globemaster C-17 aircraft stationed at Pápa Airbase, including acquisition and sustainment. Mission execution is the sole responsibility of the operational arm of the SAC, the multinational military unit, the Heavy Airlift Wing (HAW).