Technology

Airbus A400M Airlifter Makes Public Debut

posted: 26 June 2008 08:04 pm ET

: In this photograph, taken at the roll-out of the first Airbus A400M airlifter, the aircraft's advanced-aerofoil propellers are very noticeable. The propellers are made by French company Ratier-Figeac. Credit: Airbus Military
: From above, the Airbus A400M airlifter looks at first glance like a cross between the Boeing C-17 and the Lockheed C-130 Hercules. The A400M is likely to replace many C-130s in the airlifter inventories of the nine countries which have ordered the A400M so far. A tenth nation, Chile, has signed a letter of intent to acquire A400Ms. Credit: Airbus Military

Airbus Military has rolled out the first A400M military transport aircraft from the final assembly line for the new airlifter in Seville, Spain.

Designed initially to a requirement from European air forces for a new airlifter, the A400M incorporates materials and technology being used in the newest civil jets. The new aircraft incorporates features such as electronic flight controls, carbon composite structures and an automated handling system.

Launched under a single contract in 2003 with orders for 180 aircraft from seven European launch customers, the A400M is the most ambitious military procurement program ever undertaken in Europe.

Launch customer nations Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Germany, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom were later joined by Malaysia and South Africa, which ordered the A400M for their own requirements and brought commitments for the new airlifter to 192 aircraft. Chile, too, has signed a letter of intent to acquire A400Ms.

“This event demonstrates our joint determination to show that EADS can design and manufacture a long-range military transport aircraft which will set new standards in airlift and open further potential in international markets. It also serves to justify the confidence which our customers placed in us when awarding the initial contract,” said Louis Gallois, CEO of EADS, parent of both Airbus Military and Airbus.

The initial 180-aircraft contract, worth some 20 billion euros ($31.16 billion), was signed between Airbus Military and OCCAR, (Organisation Conjointe de Coordination en matière d’Armement), the contractual body representing all seven European customer nations).

Airbus Military designed the A400M to be versatile enough to offer both tactical and strategic airlift capability. With a payload of up to 37 tonnes over ranges of up to 4,700 nautical miles (5,409 miles), the A400M is designed to carry all loads and vehicles in the European Staff Requirement (ESR) inventory, serve as an aerial delivery platform and act as an in-flight tanker for both fast jets and helicopters.

Typically, the A400M will be capable of carrying a 32-tonne payload over 2,000 miles, and can carry up to 116 paratroopers, according to the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD). It will be able to drop cargo by parachute, by gravity extraction from its loading ramp, or by landing on rough landing strips. The Royal Air Force's A400M fleet will be based at Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, the RAF's main transport-aircraft hub.

The turboprop-powered A400M will be able to travel at speeds comparable with jet transports both at low level and at altitude, according to the MOD. The crew of three, comprising two pilots and a loadmaster, will have available the same advanced flight-deck and cabin technology used in the latest Airbus commercial jet programs, such as the A380.

EADS says the A400M is the first truly new military transport aircraft of its category designed in over 30 years, with twice the capacity and twice the payload of the aircraft types that it will replace in European service.

The A400M is powered by four new-generation TP400-D6 turboprop engines, developed, manufactured and supported by EuroProp International (EPI). EPI is a European joint venture company, the partners of which are Rolls-Royce, Snecma Moteurs, MTU Aero Engines and Industria deTurbopropulsores (ITP).

EPI's TP400-D6 engine is rated at more than 11,000 shaft horsepower. It drives Ratier-Figeac FH386 advanced-airfoil propellers that allow the aircraft to fly up to a cruise speed of Mach 0.72.