Nine NATO nations committed Wednesday to establishing a multinational fleet of air-to-air refueling tankers.

The refueling fleet is part of a package of measures agreed a year ago by NATO leaders to modernize the military alliance so it can respond quickly to threats around the world.

Other plans include leasing of big transport planes and ships; equipment to guard against radiation, poison-gas, or germ warfare; secure communications and jamming gear; ground surveillance; precision-guided munitions; defensive missiles and special forces.

Part of the plan is for nations to save money by sharing resources.

Belgium, Denmark, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland and Portugal joined a Spanish-led working group to acquire the air-to-air refueling planes.

Spain also joined 12 other nations who signed up in July to acquiring transport planes.

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