Dubai Airshow 2025: Airbus reveals progress on drone mothership plans for A400M
The A400M is currently operated by 10 countries worldwide, including Germany. (Photo: Airbus)
Airbus is working to expand the mission capabilities of its A400M aircraft, including a 40t payload increase, to boost Europe’s defence capabilities.
Airbus executives have touted the future capabilities and growing mission portfolio of the A400M as the company hopes to capture further A400M orders and push the potential of the aircraft for current and future customers.
Speaking to media at the Dubai Airshow, Jean-Brice Dumont, head of air power at Airbus Defence and Space, noted the A400M platform’s future capability plans, including ongoing proposals to modify it to serve as a drone mothership.
At Paris Airshow in 2025, Airbus announced it was looking into developments for its A400M platform to serve this future capability, while Dumont confirmed that the company was currently “pre-designing
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Air Warfare
-
![September crewed air review: established platforms retain their grip on the market]()
September crewed air review: established platforms retain their grip on the market
With many next-generation capabilities still years from operational readiness, several of the month’s largest developments demonstrated that governments remain willing to invest heavily in aircraft with proven capabilities and established support networks.
-
![Will the US Navy F/A-XX and the USAF F-47 compete for production capacities?]()
Will the US Navy F/A-XX and the USAF F-47 compete for production capacities?
The two sixth-generation fighter programmes could battle for engineering talent and production lines before deliveries begin, testing Boeing’s industrial expansion plans.
-
![September drone digest: attrition-tolerant aircraft pitched to replace the Reaper]()
September drone digest: attrition-tolerant aircraft pitched to replace the Reaper
The loss of many MQ-9 Reapers during the 2026 Iran War has underscored the risks of sending relatively expensive UAVs into contested airspace. In September, new contenders to replace the Reaper emerged, championing cheaper, modular aircraft designs for mass production and inevitable attrition.
