NATO has laid the cornerstone for a C-17 hanger complex in Hungary for a 12-member Strategic Airlift Capability program.

The complex to be built at Pápa Air Base is part of the SAC Infrastructure Development Plan being carried out by the NATO Support and Procurement Agency.

"This construction is a very strong commitment, a commitment of 12 nations to maintain the SAC program for at least 25 more years and to remain at Pápa Air Base," said Wiek Noldus, NAM Program Manager. "But all that is not done in isolation. Our host nation, Hungary has already invested in improved facilities on-base and we are following very closely the encouraging developments that might result in further investments ..."

"The new facilities will be much more modern than the current interim ones we are using: they will be equipped with a much faster IT Infrastructure, green utilities and have all SAC units located closer to each another, making communication easier," added Col. Frank Rombouts, the commander of the Heavy Airlift Wing.

The SAC program is an initiative for the operation of three Boeing C-17 strategic airlift planes. The aircraft are operated by member countries and under their control but can also be used for NATO, United Nations or European Union missions.

Details on when the facility in Hungary will be completed were not provided by the NATO agency.