Portal:Royal Air Force/Selected ship/7
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This article contains information about a scheduled or expected future product. It may contain preliminary information that does not reflect the final version of the product. |
| Airbus A400M | |
|---|---|
 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 1st quarter 2008.
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.
