[100], In September and October 2017, A400Ms from France, Germany and the UK participated in the disaster relief operations following Hurricane Irma in the Caribbean, delivering a Puma helicopter, food, water and other aid supply, and evacuating stranded people. [97] It can also act as a tanker when fitted with two wing mounted hose and drogue under-wing refuelling pods or a centre-line Hose and Drum unit. Time will tell if … [108] In 2009, South Africa cancelled all eight aircraft, citing increasing costs. It is intended for use on short, soft landing strips and for long-range, cargo transport flights. [132] The crash was attributed to the full authority digital engine control (FADEC) system being unable to read engine sensors properly due to an accidental file-wipe, resulting in three of its four propeller engines remaining in "Idle" mode during takeoff. [89], The A400M features deployable baffles in front of the rear side doors, intended to give paratroops time to get clear of the aircraft before they are hit by the slipstream. So what you get is faster, longer-ranged, heavier-payload C130 able to carry pretty much any military load. [10] During April 2002, Airbus Military issued a new request for proposal (RFP), after which Pratt & Whitney Canada with the PW180 and Europrop International answered. Originally, the first flight was forecast to occur during 2008 and first delivered in 2009. The programme was then at least three years behind schedule. Helicopter widths include main rotor diameter. It is powered by four Europrop TP400-D6 engines rated at 8,250 kW (11,000 hp) each. The project began as the Future International Military Airlifter (FIMA) group, set up in 1982 by Aérospatiale, British Aerospace (BAe), Lockheed, and Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) to develop a replacement for the C-130 Hercules and Transall C-160. [133], Data from Airbus Defence & Space specifications[134][135], Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era, Multi-national four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. [112], In January 2017, Indonesia approved the acquisition of five A400Ms to boost the country's military airlift capabilities. * The origins of the C-17 can actually be traced, if indirectly, to work byFrench aircraft designer Louis Breguet in the 1950s on a "short take-off &landing (STOL)" transport aircraft. Final A400M delivered in March 2017. up to 66 stretchers accompanied by 25 medical personnel, cargo compartment: width 4.00-metre (13.12 ft) x height 3.85-metre (12.6 ft) x length 17.71-metre (58.1 ft) (without ramp 5.40-metre (17.7 ft)), This page was last edited on 21 December 2020, at 13:29. [85] In June 2016, the French Air Force accepted its ninth A400M, the first capable of conducting tactical tasks such as airdropping supplies. The Airbus A400M Atlas[nb 1][5][6] is a European four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. It was made to replace planes such as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules and the Transall C-160. Your selected aircraft are compared in side-by-side arrangement below. [15], The original partner nations were France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Ldr. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation, 2013 French White Paper on Defence and National Security, "Updated- Pictures & Video: Airbus celebrates as A400M gets airborne", "Airbus; Orders, Deliveries, In Operation Military aircraft by Country", "Projet de loi de finances pour 2014 : Défense : équipement des forces", "Wie aus dem Airbus A400M doch noch eine Erfolgsgeschichte werden soll", "Airbus Transport Is Almost Ready for Takeoff", "EADS backs European supplier for Airbus military plane", "South Africa to Cancel its A400M Order. ", "Bearing up: Airbus Military's 'Grizzly' nears civil certification", "A400M contract amendment signed, as test fleet passes 1,400 flight hours. Along with the transport role, the A400M can perform aerial refueling and medical evacuation when fitted with appropriate equipment. [77], On 9 May 2015, an A400M crashed in Seville on its first test flight. "[28], In 2009, Airbus acknowledged that the programme was expected to lose at least €2.4 billion and could not break even without export sales. Varying requirements and the complications of international politics meant that progress on the initiative was slow. [71], On 12 January 2011, serial production formally commenced. [93] The eight-bladed scimitar propellers are made from a woven composite material. The undamaged aircraft returned to Toulouse. Its vertical stabilizer is 8.02 m (26.3 ft) tall, while the horizontal stabilizer spans 19.03 m (62.4 ft) with a sweep of 32.5 degrees. [8] Varying requirements and the complications of international politics meant that progress on the initiative was slow. ", "A400M close to first air drop, refuelling tests, says Airbus. Airbus A400M Engines Thanks to its cutting edge technologies, such as its four exclusive Euro Prop International (EPI) TP 400 turboprops, the Airbus A400M is actually able to fly ranges up to 4,800 nm / 8,900 km, at a visiting elevation up to 37,000 ft (11,300 m), and at a speed of up to Mach 0.72, very identical to that of a turbofan operated airlifter. "UK's first A400M arrives at Brize Norton home", "UK approaches Airbus Military, Thales for A400M training service", "Airbus Defence and Space delivers A400M to Turkish Air Force", https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/luxembourg-takes-delivery-a400m, "Airbus-Lieferung wird auf 2020 verschoben", "Fourth and Final A400M Delivered to Malaysia", "Video: Military plane crashes during test flight near Seville", "Cuatro muertos tras estrellarse un avión militar A-400M en pruebas junto al aeropuerto de Sevilla", "Fatal A400M crash linked to data-wipe mistake", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Airbus_A400M_Atlas&oldid=995515283, 2000s international military transport aircraft, Aircraft with counter-rotating propellers, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from December 2019, Articles containing potentially dated statements from January 2020, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Aircraft specs templates using more general parameter, Aircraft specs templates using more performance parameter, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. [56], In late 2010, simulated icing tests were performed on the MSN1 flight test aircraft using devices installed on the wing's leading edges. COUNTRIES. ", "Pictures: New-look A400M readied for icing trials. ", "Armée de l'air : moins d'une quarantaine d'A400M devrait être commandée", "French aerospace laboratory details A400M refuelling tests", "Airbus A400M engine glitch seen taking weeks to fix", "Airbus Reports A400M Engine Gearbox Problems Will Cause Delays", "Interim fix for A400M engine issue certified: Airbus", "Airbus wants to replace A400M parts after cracks found, Germany says", "Germany Presses Airbus to Resolve A400M Problems", "Airbus Concedes Some A400M Problems Are 'Homemade, "Airbus Announces Additional €1B in Financial Charges for A400M", "Airbus takes fresh €1bn charge against A400M", "Airbus A400M's engine becomes airborne for first time", "Second Airbus Military A400M completes maiden flight. Civil certification under European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) CS-25 shall be followed by certification for military uses. "This place would be a paradise tomorrow if every department had a supervisor with a submachine gun." [38] As the A400M was unable to perform helicopter in-flight refuelling, France announced in 2016 that it would purchase four C-130Js. The German Air Force, or Luftwaffe, has rejected delivery of two Airbus A400M military transporters due to technical problems. airbus A-400 m vs hercules C-130. [87] The A400M is large enough to carry six land rovers and trailers, or two light armored vehicles, or a dump truck and excavator, or a Patriot missile system, or a Puma or Cougar helicopter, or a truck and 25-ton trailer. [87] The maximum payload of 37 metric tons (41 short tons) can be carried over 2,000 nmi (3,700 km; 2,300 mi). [42] An interim PGB fix was certified in July 2016, greatly extending inspection intervals. The first aircraft was delivered to the French Air and Space Force in August 2013. The difference in power corresponds to a difference in the weights of the two aircraft. Instead the government decided to employ them in service. ', "Business: EADS denies mulling collapse of A400M project. [117], An A400M crashed on 9 May 2015, when aircraft MSN23, on its first test flight crashed shortly after take-off from San Pablo Airport in Seville, Spain, killing four Spanish Airbus crew and seriously injuring two others. [69] The Turkish partner, Turkish Aerospace Industries shipped the first A400M component to Bremen in 2007. Sqn. [78] Germany, Malaysia, Turkey and UK suspended flights during the investigation. [99], On 10 September 2015, the RAF was declared the A400M fleet leader in terms of flying hours, with 900 hours flown over 300 sorties, achieved by a fleet of four aircraft. ", "Airbus refunds A400M payments to Armscor. "[82], On 11 June 2015, Spain's Ministry of Defence announced that prototypes could restart test flights and that further permits could be granted soon. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. BY DECADE. [83] The RAF lifted its suspension on A400M flights on 16 June 2015, followed the next day by the Turkish Air Force. Typically none with transport forms though some specialized models outfitted with a variety of weapon options. [87] The refuelling pods can transfer fuel to other aircraft at a rate of 2,640 lb/min (20.0 kg/s). The aircraft are part of the contract signed by Belgium in 2001 to replace the aging C-130s in service with the Belgian Air Force since 1972. BY TYPE. [46], On 29 May 2016, Airbus chief Tom Enders conceded in an interview published in Bild am Sonntag that some of the "massive problems" of the A400M were of Airbus' own making: "We underestimated the engine problems...Airbus had let itself be persuaded by some well-known European leaders into using an engine made by an inexperienced consortium." [33] Airbus executives reportedly regarded the A400M as competing for resources with the A380 and A350 XWB programmes. [104], On 7 September 2018, the French Air and Space Force announced that they had logged 10,000 flying hours with their fleet of 14 A400Ms, mostly flying supply missions for Operation Barkhane. [106], In 2019, a German A400M in tanker configuration replaced the Airbus A310 MRTT deployed to Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan to refuel allied aircraft as part of the German intervention against ISIL. [59][60], By April 2011, a total of 1,400 flight hours over 450 flights had been achieved. [14] A later report described the revised bid as exceeding P&WC's bid by €120 million. [92], The Ratier-Figeac FH385 propellers turn counterclockwise and the FH386 clockwise. [51] In July 2010, the third A400M took to the air, at which point the fleet had flown 400 hours over more than 100 flights. Deliveries were expected from 2010 to 2012. The hydraulic system has dual 207 bar (3,000 psi) channels powering the primary and secondary flight-control actuators, landing gear, wheel brakes, cargo door and optional hose-and-drogue refueling system. The cargo box is 17.71 m (58.1 ft) long excluding ramp, 4.00 m (13.12 ft) wide, and 3.85 m (12.6 ft) high (or 4.00 m (13.12 ft) aft of the wing). [63] Due to a gearbox problem, an A400M was shown on static display instead of a flight demonstration at the 2011 Paris Air Show. Early conclusions observed that Airbus lacked an integrated approach to production, development and retrofits, treating these as separate programmes. Varying requirements and the complications of international politics caused slow progress. The project has its origins in the Future International Military Airlifter (FIMA) group, which was established in 1982 as a joint venture between Aérospatiale, British Aerospace (BAe), Lockheed, and Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB) with the goal of developing a replacement for both the C-130 Hercules and Transall C-160. The issue, involving a heat treatment process that weakened the ring gear, affected no other PGBs; the units involved needed changing. [72] On 1 August 2013, the first A400M was delivered to the French Air and Space Force, it was formally handed over during a ceremony on 30 September 2013. [84] On 19 June 2015, deliveries restarted. 4 x Europrop TP400-D6 turboprop engines developing 11,060 horsepower each driving scimitar-style propeller blade units. [67] Static structural testing of a test airframe began on 12 March 2008 in Spain. [92], The A400M has a T-tail empennage. [9] Since no existing turboprop engine in the western world was powerful enough to reach the projected cruise speed of Mach 0.72, a new engine design was required. The C-17 is about twice as heavy and can carry twice the payload as the A400M. [58] In March 2012, high altitude start and landing tests were performed at La Paz at 4,061.5 m (13,325 ft) and Cochabamba at 2,548 m (8,360 feet) in Bolivia. [70], The first flight, originally scheduled for early 2008, was postponed due to delays and financial pressures. Facebook; Twitter; Pinterest; Instagram; Select Language MODERN AIR FORCES. In March 2015, the RAF's first operational mission occurred flying cargo to RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus. Your selected aircraft are compared in side-by-side arrangement below. [54] By October 2010, the A400M had flown 672 hours of the 2,700 hours expected to reach certification. The counter-rotation is achieved by the use of a gearbox fitted to two of the engines, and only the propeller turns in the opposite direction; all four engines are identical and turn in the same direction. The A400M's maiden flight, originally planned for 2008, took place on 11 December 2009 from Seville Airport, Spain. If any dimensional values are "NA" in the database then the presented shapes may appear skewed. inviting Europrop to revise its offering, which it reportedly reduced in price by 10 or 20 percent. Enrique Figueredo. The Airbus A400M & EMBRAER KC-390 v1.0.0 / 01 nov 19 / greg goebel * During the Cold War, the Lockheed C-130 transport became a standard cargolifter for NATO nations. The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. Comparing the Airbus Military A400M (Atlas) Strategic / Tactical Military Transport Aircraft against the Lockheed C-130 Hercules Tactical Transport / Multi-role / Multi-Mission Aircraft. [101][102], On 24 July 2018, the German Luftwaffe used an A400M for the first time to fly 75 soldiers from Wunstorf to Mazar-i-Sharif. ", "Airbus threatens to scrap A400M aircraft. Airbus Military stated that it found the aircraft's behaviour was "excellent". [115], In March 2018, the Indonesian Air Force and state entity Indonesia Trading Company (ITC) announced they were considering ordering two A400Ms which would be crewed by the Indonesian Air Force and act in an air freight role helping to balance the prices of goods across the archipelago, they were interested in its ability to operate from rough landing strips where a normal air freighter could not and the possibility of industrial offsets. The European Aviation Safety Agency issued an Airworthiness Directive mandating immediate on-wing inspection, followed by replacement if evidence of damage is found. The alloy was excluded from future aircraft; a retrofit to remove it from early A400Ms was considered, which could take up to seven months. It has nowhere near the capacity of the C-17 but is designed for rough airstrip operations like the C-130. In December 2005, the Royal Malaysian Air Force ordered four A400Ms to supplement its fleet of C-130 Hercules. Airbus A400M vs Lockheed C-130. On 28 April 2005, South Africa joined the partnership programme with the state-owned Denel Saab Aerostructures receiving a contract for fuselage components. [53] On 28 October 2010, Airbus announced the start of refuelling and air-drop tests. [20] EADS maintained the first deliveries would begin three years after the first flight. Furthermore, it had assumed full responsibility for the engine. 5. The EVS imagery is displayed on the HUD for low altitude flying, demonstrating its value for flying tactical missions at night or in cloud. NOTES: Shapes below depict aircraft from wingtip-to-wingtip / nose-to-tail assuming aircraft are being viewed from overhead perspective (the nose pointing towards the top of the screen). This eliminates the need to have two different "handed" engines on stock for the same aircraft, simplifying maintenance and supply costs; this configuration, dubbed down between engines (DBE), allows it to produce more lift and lessens the torque and prop wash on each wing. [26] On 5 November 2009, South Africa announced the order's cancellation. The revised standard includes the addition of cockpit armour and defensive aids system equipment, plus clearance to transfer and receive fuel in-flight. Modified for the engine, originally scheduled for early 2008, took place on 11 December 2009, A400M! 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Hp ) each 1,400 flight hours over 450 flights had been achieved militaryfactory at gmail.com in.! Atlas ) Direct side-by-side comparison of Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and Airbus military stated that it the. Doubts over A400M as Europe tightens its belt sidestick controllers and flight envelope protection Multi-Colour infrared Alerting (... Had flown 672 hours of the airplane 's structure is made of materials. ] on 27 April 2016, Airbus announced the order 's cancellation airstrips that tough. Development and retrofits, treating these as separate programmes French White Paper on Defence and National Security cut tactical. On 26 June 2008, was again postponed 7 options ) transport,! Of €3,453M increased to €5,493M in 2010 is found time it needs a anyways..., but modified for the engine €5,493M in 2010 had been responsible manufacturing!