Coronavirus response: 45 tons of supplies arrive in Bucharest

  • 26 Mar. 2020 -
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  • Last updated: 29 Mar. 2020 17:20

An Allied military plane loaded with 45 tons of medical supplies landed at Bucharest airport on Thursday morning (26 March 2020) from the Republic of Korea.

A C-17 Globemaster cargo plane, part of the Strategic Airlift Capability, lands at Bucharest airport with 45 tons of supplies to combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Strategic Airlift Capability (SAC) is managed by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA). (Photo by Adrian Sultanoiu)

The C-17 Globemaster cargo plane carried over 100,000 protective suits and is part of the Strategic Airlift Capability, supported by NATO. The protective suits were purchased by the Romanian government to combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

NATO oversees two strategic airlift programmes. As part of the Strategic Airlift Capability or SAC, Allies and partner countries jointly own and operate three C-17 Globemaster heavy cargo aircraft, sharing flying hours and costs. Allies also charter several Antonov transport aircraft under the Alliance’s Strategic Airlift International Solution (SALIS) program.  These programmes routinely moved personnel and supplies from Europe to NATO bases in Afghanistan and Kosovo as well as humanitarian relief efforts in Haiti and Pakistan.