EU considers outsourced logistics for missions

Countries who participate in European Security and Defence Policy missions abroad should consider hiring private operators to handle more logistics tasks, said Gen. Henri Bentégeat, who heads the EU's Military Committee.

"Multinational operations never have the whole supply chain of logistics because member states never commit the whole chain, so there will always be a need to outsource," Bentégeat said Feb. 27 at the European Defence Agency (EDA) conference on outsourcing logistics.

The EDA, which is just beginning to develop its policies to cover outsourcing, should "challenge participating member states to address important issues and present new organizational and procedural solutions," EDA's Chief Executive Alexander Weis said.

Participants in EU missions could save money by buying support together, said EU's foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, who also oversees Weis at the EDA.

"For some logistics, this is easy to do," Solana said. "Fuel is a good example. All national contingents need it. If you buy it collectively, you can get a better deal with the contractor."

Solana said outsourcing might ease a chronic shortage of helicopters.

"In all ongoing military missions - be it in Afghanistan or Chad - there is a shortage of helicopters, in particular transport versions. We have to investigate all types of solutions, including outsourcing."

Bentégeat said there had been discussions with private companies for the Chad mission but that "the problem is that we can't ask pilots to fly in very dangerous areas, especially under fire."

Bentégeat also said that he had looked into outsourcing auxiliary medical support in Chad, but that private industry was not ready for the harsh conditions in the eastern part of the country.

"They were not up to the standards member states wanted for their armed forces," he said.

Industry response

Europe's defense industry might be able to support EU crisis management operations in a wide range of areas, said Åke Svensson, the president of the AeroSpace and Defense Industries Association of Europe (ASD), the continent's largest defense-industry association. Those areas include:

• Providing spare parts and maintenance for military weapons and gear.
• Transporting goods to the site of the operation.
• Building camps, field hospitals, airports and harbors; bringing in power, telecommunications, Internet, water and security sensors then maintaining and providing transportation around the installations.

Svensson, who is also the CEO of Saab, said his firm has provided satellite datalinks for Swedish troops in Afghanistan.

He said private companies might be able to offer helicopter transport. But that would "need to be based on long-term agreements so that industry can build up that capability."

Svensson said the main challenge in outsourcing military logistics is keeping armed forces and industry working closely while keeping their tasks clearly separated. For example, he said, the responsibility to keep private workers safe from military threats should remain with the armed forces.

He also said clear standards were vital.

"How can we identify largely accepted standards for catering, accommodation, medical services, and personnel security and safety?" he said.

Source: J. Hale - DefenseNews

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