Scott Nicholas
Airbus‘ defense and space business has delivered an A400M tactical mission-qualified military transport aircraft to Germany’s air force.
The company said Monday the aircraft represents the first in Germany’s A400M fleet that was built to support transport operations in areas with military threats and designed with self-defense systems as well as air-drop cargo load and paratrooping features.
“In addition to having twice the payload-range of the legacy transports like the C-160 and C-130 that it is replacing, it can now also operate from any runway that those older aircraft could use,” said Kurt Rossner, A400M program manager for Airbus’ defense and space business.
The company designed the aircraft to fly as low as 150 feet above the ground, function as a refueling tanker and takeoff or land in a very high-temperature operating environment, Airbus added.
A400M is also equipped with a new Defense Aids Sub-System that utilizes an expendable dispensing system, radar warning receiver and a missile warning system.
