First A400M Military Transporter Rolled Out (Source: EADS; issued June 26, 2008)
In a ceremony presided over by His Majesty Juan Carlos I, King of Spain, Airbus Military has today rolled out the first complete A400M military transport aircraft from the Final Assembly Line facility in Seville, Spain.
Designed initially to a recognised requirement for a new airlifter for European air forces, the A400M incorporates the state-of-the-art materials and technology that are being continuously perfected in today’s civil aircraft fleets. Features such as electronic flight controls, carbon composite structures and an automated handling system will bring new standards of operability and safety to military aircrews.
Launched under a single contract in 2003 with 180 orders for seven European launch customers, the A400M represents the most ambitious military procurement programme ever undertaken in Europe. The launch customer nations, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Germany, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom were subsequently joined by Malaysia and South Africa, which recognised the potential of the new airlifter for their own requirements and brought the total number of commitments to 192.
“Today is a great day for our industry,” said Carlos Suarez, CEO of Airbus Military and Head of MTAD: “It is the result of the combined efforts and determination of all those involved in the programme. It has been supported by the national governments - our customers, the industrial partners, the suppliers, and the employees who have worked to produce the aircraft. I would like to thank and congratulate them all.”
“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.
The initial contract, worth some 20 billion Euros was signed with a single interface between Airbus Military and OCCAR, (Organisation Conjointe de Coordination en matière d’Armement), the contractual body representing all seven European customer nations).
Versatility is the characteristic that best describes the A400M, it being conceived with both tactical and strategic capability. With a payload of up to 37 tonnes over ranges of up to 4700 nm, 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 refueller for both fast jets and helicopters.
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 current aircraft types that it will replace. It is all set to become the new standard in military airlift. (ends)
RAF's New Transport Aircraft Is Unveiled (Source: UK Ministry of Defence; issued June 26, 2008)
The first Airbus A400M, the RAF's future transport aircraft, rolled out today from the EADS production facility in Seville, Spain, in front of an international audience including senior RAF and MoD officials.
The long-range turbo-prop aircraft is expected to take to the air for the first time later in the year. The A400M will replace part of the RAF C-130 fleet early in the next decade with 25 on order for the UK.
Minister for Defence Equipment & Support, Baroness Taylor said:
"The A400M will be the RAF's new state-of-the-art transport aircraft for the 21st century. Capable of carrying a mixture of troops, equipment, vehicles and helicopters to the heart of our operations these aircraft will be the backbone of support to our troops. Their ability to take-off and land on short makeshift strips will enable us to deploy our forces quickly and effectively around the world on a variety of operations. Today's roll-out marks significant progress in the programme and I look forward to its first flight later this year."
Air Marshal Sir Barry Thornton, Chief of Materiel (Air) in MoD's Defence Equipment & Support organisation said after watching the aircraft roll out:
"This eagerly awaited new aircraft will support the deployment of all three Services in peace, crisis and wartime roles. It will be a highly reliable and capable aircraft that will make a significant difference to the Royal Air Force's strategic and tactical airlift."
UK-based companies are playing a significant part in the project, with the largely composite wing design and production taking place at Filton, Bristol, and Rolls-Royce in the UK playing a major role in the engine consortium.
BACKGROUND NOTES:
1. The aircraft will be capable of carrying a 32-tonne payload over 2000 miles, and can carry up to 116 paratroopers. Cargo can be dropped either by parachute, gravity extraction from the loading ramp, or by landing on rough landing strips. Flying at low level or at altitude, the A400M will be able to travel at speeds comparable with jet transports. The crew of 3, comprising 2 pilots and a loadmaster, will benefit from advanced technology taken from other Airbus programmes.
2. The fleet will be based at the RAF transport aircraft hub at Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
3. Nations participating in the project include the UK, Belgium, France, Germany, Spain and Turkey and Luxembourg. South Africa, Chile and Malaysia have placed orders or signed letters of intent.
4. In addition to the Airbus plant at Filton and several Rolls-Royce plants a number of other companies with UK manufacturing facilities are contributing to the project. A list is obtainable from Airbus UK or can be found at
http://www.european-defence.co.uk/A400m.html (ends)
First A400M Military Transporter Rolled Out (Source: Snecma Moteurs; issued June 26, 2008)
In a ceremony presided over by His Majesty Juan Carlos I, King of Spain, Airbus Military has today rolled out the first complete A400M military transport aircraft from the Final Assembly Line facility in Seville, Spain.
The Airbus Military A400M military transport is powered by the TP400 turboprop being built by Europrop International.
Europrop International was created by four leading European aero-engine companies - Industria de Turbo Propulsores, MTU Aero Engines, Rolls-Royce and Snecma (SAFRAN Group) - to manage the TP400 engine programme. More than 800 engines will be required for the 192 A400M aircraft ordered to date by nine countries.
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