Strategic Air Transport for Outsized Cargo (SATOC)
The European Council adopted a decision 16 November 2021 updating the list of projects to be undertaken under the EU permanent structured cooperation (PESCO). As a result, 14 new projects will be added to the list of the 46 existing ones that have been developed under PESCO since December 2017. The new projects are another step towards investing and developing together on defence, in particular in the air and space domains.
The 5-nation project Strategic Air Transport for Outsized Cargo (SATOC) aims to fill the critical shortfall for strategic transport for outsized and heavy cargo, a crucial enabler for military missions and operations. SATOC involves a gradual 3-step approach, firstly by identifying a sufficient number of project members – with possible third state participation, harmonising requirements and finally identifying and agreeing on a common European solution for the transport of outsized cargo. The five participating nations are: Germany, Czechia, France, Netherlands, Slovenia. An initial project timeline for the collection and harmonisation of requirements will run until 2023 with a possible agreement on a European solution and a follow-on project foreseen in 2026.
Outsize Cargo (Air)is cargo that exceeds the dimensions of oversized cargo and requires the use of a C-5 or C-17 aircraft or surface transportation. A single item that exceeds 1,000 inches long by 117 inches wide by 105 inches high in any one dimension. Oversize Cargo is air cargo exceeding the usable dimension of a 463L pallet loaded to the design height of 96 inches, but equal to or less than 1,000 inches in length, 117 inches in width, and 105 inches in height. This cargo is air transportable on the C-5, C-17, C-141, C-130, and KC-10 and most civilian contract cargo carriers.
The unique capabilities of the C-17 Globemaster - specifically its ability to carry outsize cargo into austere airfields - have proven to be an indispensible asset. Boeing finished production of the final C-17 Globemaster III aircraft on 29 November 2015, destined for Qatar. Both Antonov Airlines and Volga-Dnepr transport cargoes mainly with An-124-100 Ruslan aircraft. Both airlines are jointly participating in the Ruslan SALIS program, which involved transportation of cargoes for NATO.
The Permanent Structured Cooperation, or PESCO, is one of the building blocks of the EU’s Defence policy. It was set up in 2017 to enable EU member states to work more closely together in the area of security and defence. This permanent framework for defence cooperation allows willing and able member states to jointly develop defence capabilities, invest in shared projects, and enhance the operational readiness and contribution of their armed forces. To date, 25 EU Member States had undertaken the more binding commitments that form the basis of PESCO. With today's decision, the number of collaborative projects has risen to 60 and covers various areas such as: training facilities, land formation systems, maritime and air systems, cyber, and enabling joint multiple services and space.
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