NATO allies ditch Boeing for new surveillance planes

NATO countries have ditched plans to buy US-made Boeing aircraft to replace the alliance's ageing fleet of surveillance planes, after Washington pulled out of the programme, the Netherlands said Thursday.

The Western military alliance had announced in 2023 that members would acquire six Boeing Wedgetail jets in one of its "biggest-ever" joint purchases as it looked to bolster its capabilities against Russia.

But the Dutch defence ministry said that a consortium of six NATO countries had now decided not to go ahead with buying Boeing after the United States ended its involvement in July.

The move opens the door for the purchase of European-made aircraft as Washington's allies look to bolster their own producers amid doubts over the re

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