Airbus made the right decision in retaining South African companies in the supply chain for the A400M military airlift aircraft, Airbus Defence and Space executive VP: military aircraft Domingo Urena told South African journalists at a dinner near Seville on Monday night. "I think it was the right decision to keep industrial capacity in South Africa," he said.

Important components and parts for the A400M are manufactured by South African companies Aerosud and Denel Aerostructures. "The two companies are partners," he observed. "Hopefully, we'll get South Africa back [as a customer]."

When asked if he was referring to South Africa re-entering the A400M programme, or acquiring the smaller C295 aircraft, he responded "[b]oth, definitely. The C295 is the ideal aircraft to replace the C-47." (South Africa employs a number of about 70-year-old Douglas C-47 Dakotas in the maritime surveillance and light/medium transport roles. The C295 can also perform both roles.)

"The A400M is ideal for [troop and equipment] deployments," he pointed out. "They are different animals for different missions."

Deliveries of A400Ms to the core customer nations are now under way. Two have been delivered to the French Air Force, which is already using them on operational missions from main bases in France to forward airfields in Mali, in support of the Franco-African mission in that country. One has been delivered to the Turkish Air Force. More deliveries will follow to more customers during the rest of the year. By the end of this year, the French will be operating seven of the aircraft while the UK Royal Air Force will have received five.

Head of the A400M programme Rafael Tentor-Aunon reported, in his briefing to international media, that 90% of the aircraft's flight test programme was now completed. "Entry into service has been really smooth," he noted. "We now have a solid, reliable platform. We have kept the weight under control.  We have the aircraft flying in the envelope that we promised, at the speed that we promised, at an altitude that we promised. From now on, it's production and delivery."

The company is now vigorously marketing the A400M to countries that are not part of the programme's core group. "We have better prospects than before," affirmed Tentor-Aunon. "The interest, in general terms, is growing everywhere. We have the first [production] slot available [for an export customer] in 2017."

Keith Campbell is attending the annual Trade Media Briefing of the Military Aircraft division of Airbus Defence and Space in Seville and Madrid in Spain as a guest of the company. The Military Aircraft division was previously known as Airbus Military.