Airbus A400M
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The Airbus A400M is a four-engine turboprop aircraft, designed by Airbus Military to meet the demand of European nations for military airlift.
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Background
The initial requirement of the partner nations, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, Turkey, Belgium and Luxembourg was for 212 aircraft. 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.
The Airbus A400M is set to replace primarily the C-130 Hercules and C-160 Transall, which have been the primary cargo workhorses in the countries awaiting the new aircraft. When completed, the Airbus A400M will be Airbus' first purpose-built military aircraft. There is unlikely to be any further foray (in terms of specific aircraft development) into the military market by the airframe manufacturer.
The Airbus A400M will increase the airlift capacity and range compared to the aircraft it is set to replace. Cargo capacity is expected to double (both in payload and volume) and range is increased substantially as well. Just as Airbus' other aircraft, the A400M will have a full glass cockpit (all information accessed through large colour screens) and fly-by-wire and as such will represent a technological leap compared to the older C-130s and C-160s that many of the purchasing countries now operate.
The Airbus A400M will operate in many configurations including cargo transport, troop transport, medevac, aerial refueling and electronic surveillance.
The selection of EuroProp's engines represented a contentious issue; until the 11th hour, Pratt & Whitney Canada had been perceived as the winning engine manufacturer on technical and cost merit. However, intense last-minute pressure from European governments and industry altered Airbus' stance and forced them to go with EuroProp's proposal.
History
The political and financial delays with the A400M caused the Royal Air Force to start the Short Term Strategic Aircraft (STSA) programme which selected the C-17 as an interim measure to provide strategic airlift until the A400M entered service. Experience with the C-17 since it entered service lead to the RAF extending the original lease. On July 21 2004 Geoff Hoon announced that the RAF would buy their four C-17s at the end of the lease, even though the A400M is moving towards production. They also placed a follow-on order for one aircraft.
On 9 December 2004, the South African Air Force announced it was to purchase between 8 and 14 A400Ms, with South Africa therefore joining the Airbus Military team as an industrial partner. Deliveries are expected from 2010 till 2014.
On 18 July 2005, the Chilean Air Force signed a MOU for 3 aircraft to be delivered between 2018 and 2022. [1]
The A400M will start to be assembled in the Seville plant of EADS Spain (part of Airbus Military) in October 2006, manufacturing three aircrafts per month. The first test flight will be in 2007. [2], [3]
Specifications
General Characteristics
- Crew: 3-4 (2 pilots, 3rd optional, 1 loadmaster)
- Capacity: see Weights
- Overall Length: 43.8 m (143 ft 8 in)
- Wing Span: 42.4 m (139 ft 1 in)
- Overall Height: 14.6 m (47 ft 11 in)
Weights
- Operating Weight Empty: 70 tonnes (154 000 lb)
- Max. Take-off Weight: 130 tonnes (287 000 lb)
- Max. Landing Weight: 114 tonnes
- Max. Payload: 37 tonnes (82 000 lb)
- Total Internal Fuel: 46.7 tonnes
Performance
- Cruise Speed: Mach 0.68 - 0.72
- Max. Operating Speed: 300 kt CAS (560 km/h, 350 mph)
- Initial Cruise Altitude: at MTOW: 29 000 ft
- Service Ceiling: 37 000 ft (11 300 m)
- Max. Operating Alt - Special ops: 40 000 ft
- Range at Max. Payload: 1 800 nm (3 300 km, 2 000 miles) (long range cruise speed; reserves as per MIL-C-5011A)
- Range at 30-tonne Payload: 2 600 nm (4 800 km, 3 000 miles) (see above)
- Range at 20-tonne Payload: 3 750 nm (6 950 km)(see above)
- Ferry Range: 5000 nm
- Tactical Takeoff Distance: 940 m (3 080 ft) (aircraft weight 100 tonnes, soft field, ISA, sea level)
- Tactical Landing Distance: 625 m (2 050 ft) (see above)
Powerplant
- 4 x EPI (EuroProp International) TP400-D6, 8 250 kW thrust [4][5]
- Digital Engine Control
- Propellers:
- 5.33m (17.5 ft) diameter 8-bladed composite Ratier-Figeac FH386 propellers
- variable pitch and fully reversing
Miscellanous
- Turning Radius (Ground): 28.6 m
- Acquisition Cost: approx. 100 Mio. Euros
Related content
Designation sequence:
Similar aircraft:
See also:
- airlift
- cargo aircraft
- C-17 Globemaster III, chosen by U.K. in addition to the A400M and by Germany until its A400M are delivered
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