Kazakhstan welcomes its first A400M
The second aircraft is scheduled for delivery in 2026. (Photo: Airbus)
The A400M was handed over at a ceremony in Almaty, after a flight from Airbus’ A400M Final Assembly Line in Seville, Spain.
Kazakhstan has received the first of two A400M aircraft, Airbus has announced.
The country placed an order for two A400Ms in September 2021. Deliveries were expected to be made around 2024-2025. The aircraft will be integrated into Kazakhstan’s fleet alongside the C295 aircraft currently in service in the Air Force.
Jean-Brice Dumont, head of air power at Airbus Defence and Space, said: “The A400M is a game changer for the Kazakh Air Defense Forces, delivering unrivalled tactical and strategic capabilities in a single platform.”
Related Articles
Kazakhstan adds two more A400Ms
Airbus confident of closing new A400M export orders after Kazakhstan breakthrough
Dumont added that the second A400M was “currently in production” and would be delivered in 2026. Airbus will also reportedly provide full maintenance and training support for the aircraft for the Kazakh Air Defense Force.
At the time of the order, Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, said that the aircraft would “become the cornerstone of Kazakhstan’s tactical and strategic airlifting operations”.
Airbus has previously stated that it expects Kazakhstan to place further orders for the platform in the future.
The aircraft has been chosen by ten different countries, with 178 orders placed in total. The A400M combines tactical and logistic mission capabilities, with a maximum payload of up to 37 tonnes and a cargo hold designed to carry outsize equipment needed for civil and military missions. It completed its 25t airdrop certification in August 2024, according to Airbus.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Air Warfare
-
![UK SMEs remain vulnerable in effort to help build sovereign capabilities, JCNSS report warns]()
UK SMEs remain vulnerable in effort to help build sovereign capabilities, JCNSS report warns
The report comes as heads of industry bodies warn that the delayed defence spending plan has left smaller and medium sized businesses in stasis, unable to plan or seek out further investment.
-
![Norway revitalises effort to acquire a tactical-class UAV with $103 million competition]()
Norway revitalises effort to acquire a tactical-class UAV with $103 million competition
Norway first scoped the requirement in 2022, and included it in a defence strategy document in 2023. The announcement of a new framework agreement appears to have breathed fresh life into the effort.
-
![March Drone Digest: Long-range, low-cost loitering munitions are changing warfare economics]()
March Drone Digest: Long-range, low-cost loitering munitions are changing warfare economics
The effective use of the Shahed-136 in the Iran war has highlighted the need for countries to acquire a domestically produced, low-cost, long-range loitering munition, with the US, Turkey and European nations all at various stages of developing a similar capability.
-
![US Air Force is eyeing cost-effective automated counter-drone solutions]()
US Air Force is eyeing cost-effective automated counter-drone solutions
The USAF is seeking on-the-move systems, subsystems or technologies capable of defending airbases and fixed and semi-fixed sites against small drone attacks.
-
![Long-range drone acquisition axed as Norway announces $11.75 billion spending uplift]()
Long-range drone acquisition axed as Norway announces $11.75 billion spending uplift
Norway’s funding boost will help the country reach 3.5% of GDP on defence spending by 2035, with autonomous systems part of the long list of priorities alongside frigate acquisition and development of a new Finnmark Brigade.
