Munich. The German Air Force is to receive additional A400M large-capacity transporters. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) announced the prospect of such a procurement on Tuesday during a visit to the Airbus plant in Bremen.
Accordingly, 16 new aircraft are to replace older aircraft of the same type in the Bundeswehr and be equipped with additional technical capabilities. The Air Force has a total of 53 aircraft of this type.
The Defense Minister said that there is “very concrete current” consideration about replacing logistical aircraft with new tactical ones. There are “very good” discussions going on with Airbus. The German Bundestag must first decide.
The money is there for further purchases: Before the summer break, the Bundestag's Budget Committee approved commitments amounting to 3.59 billion euros for the A400M program until 2032. So far the framework has been a good 1.4 billion euros. The Handelsblatt had already reported on the possible purchase of the machines in July.
The heavy transport machine can carry a load of up to 25 tons, refuel fighter jets in the air or drop off paratroopers. The propeller drive enables extreme low flights and landing on unpaved runways.
In recent years, the Bundeswehr has used the machines, among other things, for evacuation flights from Kabul and to drop relief supplies over the Gaza Strip. In addition to Germany, Great Britain, France and Spain have larger A400M fleets.
The German Air Force is the largest operator in NATO. As with the civil Airbus models, production is spread across Europe. Final assembly of the machines takes place in Spain; in Germany, the Airbus plant in Bremen is involved.
The 16 machines to be ordered will have new capabilities in contrast to their predecessors. This includes a permanent satellite connection and increased self-protection against incoming missiles. This means the machine can operate “in threatened airspace,” according to Airbus Defense and Space.
According to industry circles, these machines are no longer just used as transporters. The Air Force is considering converting these aircraft to carry drones or cruise missiles such as the Taurus. So far, only fighter jets like the Tornado can do this, but it will be phased out from 2030.
The order is of great importance for the manufacturer Airbus Defense and Space. The production and delivery of the aircraft, which was built jointly with France, Great Britain and Spain, has caused a lot of frustration between industry and politics in the past. Poor delivery quality and cost overruns almost led to the A400M being canceled prematurely in 2010, before any aircraft had even been delivered.
Only when the largest buyer countries promised more money for initially fewer services did series production begin. Deliveries from the agreements concluded at the time are now running out, and production of the A400M in final assembly in Seville has been halved to eight machines per year.
If no new orders come, it would be over in 2030, including for German suppliers. With the order from the Bundeswehr, the production line could be kept open for another two years.
Another order would also be important internally for Airbus. Continuing production would be a signal of European cooperation in terms of industrial policy. Spain wants to develop an alternative to the failed FCAS jet together with Germany and needs capacity utilization for its industry until a new project starts.
Airbus is also trying to market the machine worldwide. With a rumored 170 million euros in the basic version, the A400M represents a cost that not many nations can afford. The main competitors are the Lockheed C‑130 and the Embraer 390. Both machines can only hold half as much cargo, but are significantly cheaper to purchase and maintain.
In addition to Turkey, which has ten aircraft, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and Malaysia have each purchased units, but Airbus sees potential for significantly more. Saudi Arabia is considered a possible major customer. The machine would be ideal for desert use: With its robust chassis and turboprop drive, it can also take off and land on unpaved runways.
