News
Reporting for duty: Airbus marks delivery of first A400M
Oct. 2, 2013, Seville, Spain - Airbus Military officially celebrated the handover of its initial A400M next-generation airlifter with a ceremony today at the aircraft’s final assembly line in Seville, Spain – formalising the aircraft’s previous delivery to the French Air Force two months ago.
October 2, 2013 By Carey Fredericks
More than 700 people
attended this event, including H.R.H Prince Felipe of Asturias, French
Minister of Defence Jean-Yves Le Drian, Spanish Minister of Defence
Pedro Morenés, as well as other representatives from the A400M programme
partner nations and OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament
Cooperation), along with EADS CEO Tom Enders, Airbus Military Chairman
and CEO Domingo Ureña-Raso, who were joined by more than 300 Airbus and
Airbus Military staff.
Airbus Military delivered the no.1 A400M
next-generation airlifter to France on 1 August 2013. Located at Orleans
– Bricy Air Base, the aircraft will be deployed on military and
humanitarian missions following its initial use for training.
In preparation for the milestone first delivery,
Airbus Military conducted more than 5,000 flight-test hours with its
first-built A400Ms – certifying the aircraft to both civil and military
standards – while nearly 40,000 people were involved during the 10-year
development of this major European defence programme.
The A400M responds to the combined needs of seven
European nations (Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Turkey
and the United Kingdom) and meets the varied requirements of 21st
century air forces. A total of 174 A400M aircraft have been ordered,
including 50 by France.
