First UK A400M arrive at RAF Brize Norton

Picture: Steve Lympany, Crown copyrigh t The first of the UK’s A400M Atlas next-generation military transport aircraft has been offici...

Picture: Steve Lympany, Crown copyright

The first of the UK’s A400M Atlas next-generation military transport aircraft has been officially unveiled at its new home at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.

The UK is the third country to operate the aircraft, after France and Turkey. This is the first delivery as part of the £2.8 billion program for 22 A400Ms, which is known in service as the A400M Atlas.

The aircraft will replace the existing fleet of Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules which have been the tried and trusted workhorse of the RAF’s air transport fleet for decades. The new generation airlifter combines the intercontinental range of the RAF Boeing C-17 airlifter with the ability to do the tactical rough landings of the C-130 Hercules.

Prime Minister David Cameron was guest of honour at a ceremony to celebrate the acceptance of the aircraft at RAF Brize Norton, which is in his parliamentary constituency, where the entire Atlas fleet will be based. He was accompanied by Minister for Defence Equipment Support &Technology Philip Dunne.

At Brize Norton the Airbus A400M will operate alongside the RAF’s Airbus Voyager multi-role tanker transport fleet. The wings of both aircraft are built in the UK at Filton and Broughton respectively. Additionally the Voyager’s engines are produced in the UK by Rolls-Royce, which is also a member of the Europrop International consortium that produces the A400M’s TP400 engines.

Picture: Andrew Linnett, Crown copyright

Manufactured by Airbus Defence & Space, A400M Atlas will represent major advances on its predecessor, capable of flying almost twice as fast, twice as far and carrying almost twice as much cargo. The aircraft was assembled in Seville, Spain.
With a cargo capacity of 32 tonnes and a hold optimised for carriage of heavy vehicles, helicopters or cargo pallets, the aircraft is capable of supporting a wide range of operational scenarios.

The A400M Atlas will be able to transport the growing family of 30 tonne protected mobility vehicles, including the recently ordered Scout fighting vehicle or Foxhound vehicles.

It is also capable of carrying up to 116 armed forces personnel, including paratroopers.
Altogether the A400M supports some 8,000 jobs in the UK including around 900 Airbus Group employees working directly on the aircraft at Filton. To date eight nations have ordered 174 aircraft of which the first seven have now been delivered.