Airbus Defence & Space (Military Aircraft) is highly optimistic for exports sales of its A400M military transport and air-to-air refuelling aircraft, outside the programme’s seven European core partner nations (Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Turkey and the UK). “Our clear target is more than 300 [export] aircraft over the next 30 years,” affirmed A400M programme head Kurt Rossner.

The company’s shorter-term target is 50 orders in the next five years and it is optimistic about winning export orders in the not-too-distant future. The aircraft is well perceived in many countries and has been demonstrated around the world; the company has already responded to multiple requests for proposals.

The programme already has one export customer, Malaysia, which has ordered four of the aircraft. The first of these A400Ms entered service with the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) in March. The European core partners currently have, between them, 174 on order.

As of October, fifteen A400Ms were in operational service with five air forces. Apart from the RMAF’s one, there was one with Germany’s Luftwaffe, two with Turkey’s Turk Hava Kuvvetleri, four with the UK’s Royal Air Force and seven with France’s Armée de l’Air. “These aircraft are flying every day,” he pointed out. “This aircraft is out of the development stage, [although] we are still having improvements [made]. This aircraft is a real game changer.” He cited the testimony of the flight crews, including the loadmasters (responsible for the loading, distribution and unloading or dropping of the cargo and/or troops).

The A400M has already been proven in real operations. “The French Air Force is flying this aircraft very heavily,” highlighted Rossner. The French have used their A400Ms in Operation Serval, in Mali, Operation Sangaris, in the Central African Republic, and Operation Barkhane, in the wider Sahel region, as well as to support Operation Chammal over Iraq. Germany has used its A400M for an operation in Senegal, while Turkey has employed its two aircraft on missions to Afghanistan.

As of October, a large number of the aircraft’s main capabilities had been certified. In terms of flight performance, these include the full flight domain up to maximum speed (Mach 0.72, or 72% of the speed of sound) and an altitude of 40 000 ft. Low-level flight at 500 ft above ground level, in visual conditions, had also been certified, as had the full envelope of manoeuvrability, including a bank angle of up to 120° and landing on unpaved natural soil runways. In addition, the forward-looking infrared night vision systems and the fuel-tank-inserting system had been certified.

Also certified were the A400M’s ability to carry heavy vehicles (such as the French Army’s 28 t VBCI 8 × 8 armoured personnel carrier) and large helicopters (for example, the Airbus Helicopter EC725 Caracal), as well as to undertake the medical evacuation of 66 stretcher cases, the transport 116 troops, the carrying of nine military pallets and the combat offloading of military vehicles. Regarding paradropping missions, the aircraft had been certified to drop loads off its ramp using gravity, drop bundles through its side doors, drop paratroopers off its ramp using static lines (which open their parachutes automatically), drop free-falling paratroopers off its ramp and drop free-falling paratroopers out of its side doors (although not yet simultaneously).

The programme has had to endure some severe turbulence over the years, requiring significant reorganisation. He reported that the new structure and location of the programme organisation were now in place, the implementation of the industrial recovery plan was going well, the relationship with the customer had largely been rebuilt, the primary focus for both the company and the customer was now on developments and capabilities of the aircraft, maturity issues from earlier in the programme were being closely managed to ensure deliveries and aircraft availability and good progress was being made on contractual issues with Occar (the European defence acquisition agency that oversees the A400M programme on behalf of its member countries) and the customer countries.

“This aircraft is excellent,” enthused Rossner. “On the performance of this aircraft, we can all be proud. “This aircraft is unique – unique in its size and in the capabilities we will provide the [client] countries in the future.” The company plans to deliver at least 14 A400Ms by the end of this year, aiming for a maximum of 17.

Keith Campbell attended the Airbus Defence & Space Military Aircraft Trade Media Briefing 2015 last month as a guest of the company.