Cooperation between the Netherlands and Germany in the area of ground-based air and missile defence is entering a new phase. Yesterday [Sept. 13—Ed.], the project leaders of the two countries signed a further expanded agreement.
The project is intended to further extend cooperation in the area of air defence. Cooperation in this area has already been in place for decades. The reorganizations of the two countries’ armed forces, with Germany’s reorganization still in full swing, are the immediate cause for seeking to work more efficiently in this area.
Operational core
For example, in the operational domain, efforts are being concentrated on forming a German-Netherlands staff which is capable of acting as the core of a tailor-made air and missile defence task group during exercises and actual deployments.
It will make use of a German mobile operations center for control of Patriot, AGBADS, MANTIS and Stinger units. However, large-scale, regular cross-border deployments of units are not intended.
