Airbus’ Next Generation A400M Completes Airdrop Trials

The A400M new generation airlifter has successfully completed one of the most important elements of its continuing military flight-test programme – the first phase of airdrop trials.

According to an official statement, “Flying over the Fonsorbes drop zone near Toulouse, an A400M development aircraft dropped a range of different loads by parachute during 11 flights over a two-week period.”

In total it dropped 26 platforms and containers weighing from 255kg to 4 tonnes using the ramp aerial-delivery system (RAS-wedge), and 11 bundles weighing from 15kg to 320kg using the paratrooper doors, it added.

The aircraft’s top operators, Britain is scheduled to get its first aircraft this, and German deliveries will follow in 2015.Turkey will also soon receive its first of 10 A400M aircraft soon, according to reports.

“I can’t give you any figures, but there is huge capacity for exports; the political and industrial winds are synchronized,” French Defense Minister Jean Yves Le Drian told reporters last September when his country took delivery of the first aircraft.

At present, Airbus’ total orders stand at 174 aircraft and France is scheduled to receive the remaining 49 by 2025.

Meanwhile, the spanish government has decided to sell 13 of 27 A400M aircraft it is scheduled to receive from Airbus Military following significant defence cutbacks in some major procurement programs.

“Contractually, Spain has to take all of the 27 A400Ms it has ordered,” a spokesman for Airbus Military was quoted as saying on July 29, “but if it wants to sell some of them, we have nothing to say.”

Germany is due to receive its first of 53 aircraft this year. The UK (22), Belgium (7), Turkey (10), Luxembourg (1), Malaysia (4) and Spain (27) are among countries that have ordered the transport aircraft.