Signature of A400M Global Support Step 2 (GSS2) Contract

Following the recent successful conclusion to Global Rebaselining of the A400M Programme, another significant milestone was achieved, on 28 June, with the signature of the Global Support Step 2 contract between OCCAR-EA, on behalf of the A400M Participating States, and AMSL.

The contract was signed in Paris by the OCCAR-EA Director, Arturo Alfonso Meiriño, Michael Menking, AMSL’s A400M Programme Manager and Stephan Miegel, AMSL’s Head of Military Aircraft Services, in the presence of the A400M Ministers.

The GSS2 contract comes into force on 1 July 2019, has a duration of 4.5 years and is the first support contract for all six A400M Participating States. Negotiation of the GSS2 contract has presented a huge challenge for the PD, AMSL and the Nations, working to an extremely tight deadline to bring together the requirements of all six Nations under a single contract.

© DGA - from left to right: Michael Menking, Head of A400M Programme Airbus Defence & Space, Arturo Alfonso Meirino, OCCAR-EA Director, Stephan Miegel, Head of Military Aircraft Services Airbus Defence & Space

GSS2 is the culmination of a Global Support Strategy, approved by Nations in 2014, which involved a stepped approach to move from individual support arrangements to a comprehensive common support solution for all Nations. It replaces GSS1, which provided support services for France, Spain and the UK. 

The GSS2 contract provides a wide scope of support activities, including a Spares Availability Service for four of the Nations, Engineering Support and Ground Support Device services, National support services to meet the needs of each respective Nation and specific requirements to support the entry into service of the first Belgian/Luxembourg aircraft in May 2020.