A400M – A Tactical and Strategic Airlifter

The A400M meets the demands of efficient, all-terrain, transport of modern military operations: in all weather, day and night, for troops, as a tanker or for equipment up to the size of helicopters.

Today's armed forces require flexible and cost effective means of deploying rapidly their manpower and resources. This need was reflected in a joint European Staff Requirement that was endorsed in 1997 by eight European nations, all of them members of NATO. Following an assessment of a number of proposals to meet this requirement, the nations announced on 27 July 2000 that their choice was in favour of the Airbus A400M proposal.

A400M is a new design tailored to meet the Customers’ needs, and is at the forefront of developments in new technology for a large transport aircraft. The aircraft also offers the possibility of greater interoperability, as well as multi-national training and support packages with the potential to offer major through-life savings. The programme breaks new ground in European collaborative procurement with the adoption of a more commercial approach towards its acquisition and support.

The programme was officially launched and integrated into OCCAR in May 2003. The current intention of the Participating States is to procure a total of 170 aircraft made up as follows: Germany 53, France 50, Spain 27, Türkiye 10, UK 22, Belgium 7, Luxembourg 1 (Luxembourg is represented by Belgium within the OCCAR A400M Programme).

As at June 2023, a total of 115 AC have been delivered to OCCAR Participating States, plus a further 4 to Malaysia (the first A400M export Nations). 

In 2021, two export sales were confirmed by AMSL; with 2 AC being sold to Kazakhstan and two AC to Indonesia (with an option for a further 4 AC). A number of additional export campaigns are being pursued.