The MoD committed to 25 x Airbus A400M in 2000 to meet the Future Transport Aircraft (FTA) requirement for an air lift capability to replace the remaining Hercules C-130K C1/C3 fleet.

The A400 is a collaborative programme involving eight European nations (Germany, France, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg and United Kingdom), procuring a total of 180 aircraft.


The expected UK cost is some £2.4 billion for 25 aircraft. The projected in-service date has slipped from 2007 to 2010.

The A400M aircraft will provide tactical and strategic mobility to all three Services in peace, crisis and war. In crisis or war, A400M will be employed on inter- and intra-theatre air transport tasks, primarily in support of the Joint Rapid Reaction Force (JRRF).
 

As an example, the aircraft will be capable of carrying 32 Tonnes over 2300 miles e.g. 2 x  Apache helicopters or 6 x land Rovers plus trailers or outsize dump truck with tracked excavator. It will also be capable of cruising at speeds comparable with other pure-jet military transports (0.68M-0.72) and can operate either at low-level (down to 150ft AGL) or up to an altitude of 40 000ft.
 

The A400M should provide tactical and strategic mobility to all three Services.

The capabilities required of the A400M include the ability to operate from well established airfields and semi-prepared rough landing areas in extreme climates and all weather by day and night; to carry a variety of vehicles and other equipment, freight, and troops over extended ranges; to be capable of air dropping paratroops and equipment; and to be capable of being unloaded with the minimum of ground handling equipment.

The A400M should also meet a requirement for an airlift capability to move large single items such as attack helicopters and some Royal Engineers’ equipment.
 

Airbus Military SL of Madrid, a subsidiary of Airbus Industrie, is responsible for management of the whole of the A400M programme.

Companies involved in the programme are BAE Systems (UK), EADS (Germany, France and Spain), Flabel (Belgium) and Tusas Aerospace Industries (Turkey). Final assembly will almost certainly take place in Spain. In May 2003, the European consortium engine TP400-D6 was selected for the A400M military transport aircraft over the rival Pratt & Whitney proposal.
 

The most commonly quoted argument in favour of the A400M over the C-130J is that this aircraft could carry a 25 ton payload over a distance of 4,000 km. Thus, it is argued that a fleet of 40 x A400M could carry a UK Brigade to the Gulf within 11.5 days, as opposed to the 28.5 days required to make a similar deployment with 40 x C 130s. To operate a fleet of 40 x A400M would of course require aircraft from elsewhere in Europe. In any event, we believe that the RAF will probably retain its C-17s, and will operate a mixed transport fleet comprising the C-130J, A-400 and C-17.
 

The A400M programme is a direct result of a commonly expressed need by 8 European air forces for a new generation military airlifter.

The scope of this initiative to specify and procure an aircraft of a common definition is unique and clearly points to the way forward in the domain of "smart procurement" for the armed forces of allied nations.



These European NATO members issued a Request for Proposal in September 1997 and it was to respond to this RFP that the aerospace industries of these nations came together in the partnership now known as Airbus Military. June 2001 saw the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which represented a major milestone towards the industrial launch of the A400M.

In May 2003, the contract was signed between Airbus Military and OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en Matière d'Armement), representing Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Turkey, and United Kingdom for a total of 180 aircraft. In April 2005 South Africa ordered 8 aircraft, followed in December by a contract signed with Malaysia for 4 aircraft. Both nations became A400M programme partners, bringing the total commitment to 192 aircraft.
 

The first compete set of A400M wings was delivered on 11 April 2007 from Airbus UK’s Filton production facility to the Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Seville, Spain.

This first A400M wing is destined for integration into the static test airframe which is currently undergoing completion at the static test facility in Getafe, Madrid, and will be transported there from Seville by road.


Other major sub-assemblies have already been delivered to Seville where final assembly of the first test aircraft will begin during the first half of this year with first flight scheduled for the first quarter of 2008.

Photos Copyright Airbus Military SL