Germany receives tactical standard A400M
Germany has received its first A400M configured for tactical transport operations, Airbus Defence and Space announced on 12 December.
Germany has previously received five A400Ms in strategic transport configuration. These aircraft will be retrofitted to the new standard and receive subsequent enhancements as those are certified.
The tactical standard aircraft is able to fly intra-theatre missions in areas subject to military threats. Key improvements include enhanced self-defence systems, including a defensive aids sub-system incorporating a missile warning system, radar warning receiver, and an expendables dispensing system to eject flares and radar-confusing chaff; the ability to air-drop cargo loads, and paratrooping capabilities. It can operate on unprepared runways, fly as low as 150ft above the ground, refuel other aircraft as a tanker, and safely take-off and land in extremely high temperatures (up to 55°C at sea level).
Kurt Rossner, A400M programme manager, Airbus Defence and Space, said: ‘The A400M programme has made enormous progress this year in implementing these critical capabilities on the aircraft.
‘In addition to having twice the payload-range of the legacy transports like the C-160 and C-130 that it is replacing, it can now also operate from any runway that those older aircraft could use. There is no other aircraft in the market with the A400M's combination of tactical and strategic capabilities and it is going to transform Germany’s air mobility force.’
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