Just for you, MrB:
The A400M is a natural expansion of the Airbus aircraft family into the military sector. Specifically designed to meet the needs of European NATO nations, this all-new military transport provides a versatile and cost-effective solution to the world's military airlift requirements in humanitarian or peace-keeping operations. Airbus, which has a 64 per cent work share in the A400M, is fully responsible for the A400M's programme management.
The A400M is an economical, high-speed turboprop aircraft with a cruise speed of Mach 0.68-0.72 and the highest initial cruise altitude in its class, enabling integration into commercial traffic patterns. Designed for both strategic and tactical roles, it is capable of operating into unprepared landing strips completely independent of ground support.
With a 20 tonne payload the A400M has an unrefuelled range of 3,550 nm./6,600 km., enabling it easily to reach central Africa or Middle Eastern destinations non-stop from Europe. It is also fully equipped for air-to-air refuelling as a receiver and can be converted to a tanker role in just two hours. The A400M has a maximum payload of 37 tonnes and can accommodate all of the loads specified by the European Staff Requirement.
This military aircraft programme will use the same centres of competence, the same integrated engineering organisation and the same certification processes as any other Airbus programme. The first flight will take place in 2008 with first deliveries beginning in 2009.
The launch nations' orders for the A400M are Belgium (7), France (50), Germany (60), Luxembourg (1), Spain (27), Turkey (10) and the United Kingdom (25), a total of 180 aircraft. The fact that these seven European countries have contracted with Airbus Military to develop the A400M is a remarkable measure of Airbus' credibility, earned in the civil arena. It shows their confidence that the Airbus system can deliver an advanced and reliable military transport product, on time and on budget. The programme also breaks new ground in offering military customers direct access to the exceptional Airbus product support organisation.
In addition to the launch customers nations Airbus Military has identified a number of potential export markets and confidently expects to sell up to 200 more of the new military airlifters.
The A400M programme development will be centralised first in Toulouse and, as work progresses, will move to Spain, with the assembly line and delivery centre located in Seville.
I remember having a good nose around that wooden mock-up, Tonks. In the back was a day glo orange 'goal post' (whatever one of those might be). I asked what it was - it turned out to be the dimensions of the C-130 fuselage. Which looked tiny in comparison. The flightdeck layout is very gucci indeed - streets ahead of the C-17 as it uses all-A380 technology but with military requirements added.
Oh - and if you fitted both cargo bay tanks and 2 pods, it'd offer about the same time on task on a North Sea towline as a K4 at the same assumed offload rate.