Bundeswehr plans to order 16 new A400M transport aircraft from Airbus

The Bundeswehr wants to order 16 new A400M transport aircraft from Airbus. Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) said this at a press conference in Bremen after a visit to the Airbus factory there. The aim is to replace older machines without tactical capabilities.

“We are currently thinking very specifically about replacing logistical aircraft with new tactical ones,” said the Defense Minister. There are “very good” discussions with Airbus about this. The German Bundestag must first decide on this. According to Pistorius, the planned investment is worth billions.

Military and humanitarian operations

To date, the Bundeswehr has 53 transport machines of this type. All are stationed in Wunstorf near Hanover. The last machine for the time being was only handed over in April of this year. However, 16 machines are pure transporters without tactical capabilities, for example to defend against rocket fire, said Pistorius. These should be replaced.

The transport aircraft has various tasks in the Bundeswehr. It can refuel other aircraft in the air or refuel itself. In addition to transporting soldiers or military goods such as tanks, it is also used for humanitarian missions. It brings relief supplies to crisis areas, can be converted into a mobile medical station and was most recently used as a fire-fighting aircraft in France. The aircraft also received a lot of attention for the evacuation flights from Afghanistan after the Taliban came back to power.

Old models are to be sold to partners

The A400M is used by ten different nations worldwide - if Pistorius has his way, there will be even more. In his view, the A400M is the “best aircraft of its kind”. When new aircraft are purchased, older Bundeswehr aircraft of this type are sold to partners, he said.

According to Airbus, the A400M can transport up to 37 tons of cargo and fly distances of up to almost 6,300 kilometers. This roughly corresponds to the distance from Wunstorf to New York. It is technically built so that it can take off and land on sandy or uneven slopes. The transport aircraft is built in Bremen, among other places, where the fuselage of the A400M is made.