First A400M Military Transporter Rolled Out

In a ceremony presided over by His Majesty Juan Carlos I, King of Spain, Airbus Military has rolled out the first complete A400M military transport aircraft from the Final Assembly Line facility in Seville, Spain on June 26, 2008.>> Designed initially to a recognized requirement for a new airlifter for European air forces, the A400M incorporates the state-of-the-art materials and technology that are being continuously perfected in todays civil aircraft fleets. Features such as electronic flight controls, carbon composite structures and an automated handling system will bring new standards of operability and safety to military aircrews.>> Launched under a single contract in 2003 with 180 orders for seven European launch customers, the A400M represents the most ambitious military procurement program ever undertaken in Europe. The launch customer nations, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Germany, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom were subsequently joined by Malaysia and South Africa, which recognized the potential of the new airlifter for their own requirements and brought the total number of commitments to 192.>> Being the shareholder of Airbus Military S.L., as National Insdustrial Institution, Turkish Aerospace Industries, Inc. (TAI) has been participating in the design & development activities of the program.>> Today is a great day for our industry, said Carlos Suarez, CEO of Airbus Military and Head of MTAD: It is the result of the combined efforts and determination of all those involved in the program. It has been supported by the national governments - our customers, the industrial partners, the suppliers, and the employees who have worked to produce the aircraft. I would like to thank and congratulate them all.