First Airbus A400M military transport plane handed over

30th September 2013

By: Leandi Kolver

Creamer Media Deputy Editor

  

Font size: - +

The first Airbus A400M military transport plane, to which South African firms Denel Aerostructures and Aerosud contribute components, was officially handed over to the French air force on Monday.

The A400M is an all-new military airlifter designed to meet the needs of the world's armed forces in the twenty-first century. The aircraft’s advanced technologies allow it to fly higher, faster and further, while retaining high manoeuvrability, low speed and short, soft and rough airfield capabilities, Denel explained.

Under a renegotiated contract announced in September 2012, Denel was responsible for two A400M work packages involving the design, engineering and fabrication of the wing-to-fuselage fairing and the fuselage top-shells.

The wing-to-fuselage fairing was the largest single aerostructure component ever produced in South Africa and provided an aerodynamic shroud over sensitive equipment located in the centre wing part of the A400M, Denel said.

In June, Airbus Military placed a third multimillion-rand contract with the company during the Paris Airshow in France, for the manufacturing of the “ribs, spars and swords”, the inside structure of the giant airlifter’s distinctive tail section. 

The R200-million work package was contracted to run over the entire life of the A400M programme.

“It demonstrates Airbus Military’s confidence in Denel and South Africa’s design and manufacturing capabilities, coupled with our ability to deliver on time and within budget,” Denel chairperson Zoli Kunene said.

Meanwhile, Aerosud manufactured the cockpit lining, the cabin lining, and the wing-tip, and Cobham South Africa in Westlake, Cape Town, supplied the satellite communications antennae and underlying systems for the A400M aircraft.

The delivery event was broadcast live via video streaming from Seville, Spain, giving Denel employees the opportunity to see the parts of the aircraft they produced during the aircraft’s first flight.

“This is a celebration of South African innovation and our high-tech manufacturing capabilities. We are participating with great success and confidence in the most ambitious multinational aircraft production process ever.

“It shows that we have the skills and capacity in South Africa to manufacture sophisticated aerostructures and we are ready to contribute to the growth of the home-grown aerospace industry,” Denel CEO Riaz Saloojee said.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

Comments

The functionality you are trying to access is only available to subscribers.

If you are already a subscriber, you can Login Here.

If you are not a subscriber, you can subscribe now, by selecting one of the below options.

For more information or assistance, please contact us at subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za.

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION