France/Germany. France, Germany launch joint tactical air squadron and training center (Vivienne Machi, Defense News)

Germand Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer (R) speaks with pilots near a Lockheed C-130J transport plane during a visit to lay the foundation stone of a new hanger housing a Franco-German squadron of C-130J transport planes at the French airbase 105 in Evreux, northwest France, on September 17, 2020. (Photo by SAMEER AL-DOUMY/AFP via Getty Images)

After several years of planning, the French and German air forces have formally launched a binational tactical air transport squadron starting this month, with plans to fully establish the new unit within three years.

French Defense Minister Florence Parly and German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer signed an agreement Aug. 30 to officially create a joint C-130J squadron based at Evreux Air Base in Normandy. The nations’ pilots will then train in mixed teams “without distinction of nationality,” the two defense ministries said in a joint release.

France, Germany launch joint tactical air squadron and training center (defensenews.com)