Airbus A400M

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article contains information about a scheduled or expected future product.
It may contain unverified or unreliable information, and may not reflect the final version of the product.

Airbus A400M
Image:A400m.jpg
Artist's impression of the A400M
Type	Long-range military transport
Manufacturer	EADS (Airbus Military)
Maiden flight	2008
Introduced	2009
Status	Early assembly
Primary users	Germany, France, Spain, United Kingdom, Turkey, Belgium, Luxembourg, South Africa, Chile, Malaysia
Number built	195 (planned)
Unit cost	€100 million

The Airbus A400M is a four-engine turboprop aircraft, designed by EADS (Airbus Military) to meet the demand of European nations for military airlift. Since its formal launch the aircraft has also been ordered by South Africa, Chile and Malaysia. Its maiden flight is scheduled for 2008.

1 Background
2 History
3 Technology
4 Orders
5 Specifications
6 References
7 External links
8 Related content

[edit] Background

The project began as the Future International Military Airlifter (FIMA) group, set up in 1982 by Aerospatiale, British Aerospace, Lockheed and MBB to develop a replacement for the C-130 Hercules and C-160 Transall. Varying requirements and the complications of international politics caused slow progress. In 1989 Lockheed left the grouping and went on to develop a second generation Hercules, the C-130J. With the addition of Alenia and CASA the FIMA group became Euroflag.

The partner nations, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Belgium and Luxembourg, signed an agreement in May 2003 to buy 212 aircraft. These nations decided to charge OCCAR with the management of the acquisition of the A400M.

Following the withdrawal of Italy and revision of procurement totals the revised requirement was for 180 aircraft, with first flight in 2008 and first delivery in 2009. On 28 April 2005, South Africa joined the partnership programme.

The Airbus A400M will increase the airlift capacity and range compared to the aircraft it was originally set to replace, the older versions of the Hercules and Transall. Cargo capacity is expected to double over existing aircraft, both in payload and volume, and range is increased substantially as well. Just as Airbus' other aircraft, the A400M will have a full glass cockpit (all information accessed through large colour screens) and fly-by-wire and as such will represent a technological leap compared to the older C-130s and C-160s that many countries now operate.

The Airbus A400M will operate in many configurations including cargo transport, troop transport, MEDEVAC, aerial refuelling and electronic surveillance.

The selection of EuroProp's engines represented a contentious issue; until the 11th hour, Pratt & Whitney Canada had been perceived as the winning engine manufacturer on technical and cost merit. However, intense last-minute pressure from European governments and industry altered Airbus' stance and forced them to go with EuroProp's proposal.

[edit] History

The political and financial delays with the A400M caused the Royal Air Force to start the Short Term Strategic Aircraft (STSA) programme which selected the C-17 as an interim measure to provide strategic airlift until the A400M entered service. Experience with the C-17 since it entered service led to the RAF extending the original lease. On July 21, 2004 Geoff Hoon announced that the RAF would buy their four C-17s at the end of the lease, even though the A400M is moving towards production. They also placed a follow-on order for one C-17.

On December 9, 2004, the South African Air Force announced it was to purchase 8 A400Ms at the total cost of €837-million, and had options on 6 more, with South Africa therefore joining the Airbus Military team as an industrial partner. Deliveries are expected from 2010 to 2014.

On July 18, 2005, the Chilean Air Force signed a MOU for 3 aircraft to be delivered between 2018 and 2022.<ref>Airbus Military signs agreement with Chile Airbus Military Website</ref>

On December 8, 2005 the Royal Malaysian Air Force ordered four A400M, to replace its ageing fleet of C-130.

Canada issued a tender on July 5, 2006 for 17 new tactical airlifters to replace their old CC-130E and H models <ref>Airlift Capability Project - Tactical MERX website - Government of Canada</ref>. The A400M would be competing for the order with the Lockheed C-130J. Airbus A400Ms would serve as the Canadian Force's mid-range transports, while the government has issued a separate notice of intent to purchase 4 Boeing C-17s as long-range transports. As of November 22, 2006 the Canadian government has un-officially awarded the contract to Lockheed-Martin for procurement of the C-130J, citing a lack of test-flights for comparative analysis and confidence that the A400M would be delivered on schedule.<ref>Lockheed wins $4.9B contract: Tories quietly pick U.S. aerospace giant to replace Hercules. Ottawa Citizen. Retrieved on November 22, 2006.</ref>

The A400M will start to be assembled in the Seville plant of EADS Spain (part of Airbus Military) in October 2006, manufacturing three aircraft per month. The first test flight will be in 2007.<ref>Seville, A400M Assembly and Delivery Centre EADS</ref>,<ref>invierte 22 millones y cede 130.000 m2 a EADS-CASA para posibilitar el desarrollo del A-400MAndalucia24Horas</ref>

[edit] Technology

The A400M's wings will be primarily CFRP. The cockpit features a fly-by-wire flight control system with sidestick controllers and flight envelope protection. High performance turboprop engines will allow operation in a civil air traffic control environment. <ref>Airbus Military www.airbusmilitary.com</ref>

[edit] Orders

Date	Country	EIS	Orders
May 27, 2003	Image:Flag of Germany.svg Germany	2010	60
May 27, 2003	Image:Flag of France.svg France	2009	50
May 27, 2003	Image:Flag of Spain.svg Spain	2011	27
May 27, 2003	Image:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK	2010	25
May 27, 2003	Image:Flag of Turkey.svg Turkey	2009	25
May 27, 2003	Image:Flag of Belgium.svg Belgium	2018	7
May 27, 2003	Image:Flag of Luxembourg.svg Luxembourg	2017	1
December 15, 2004	Image:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa	2010	8
July 15, 2005	Image:Flag of Chile.svg Chile	2018	3
December 8, 2005	Image:Flag of Malaysia.svg Malaysia	2013	4
Total:			195