A400M engine - hey, it works!

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26 June 2008
First A400M military transporter rolled out
Airbus Military has today rolled out the first complete A400M military transport aircraft from the Final Assembly Line at the EADS Military Transport Aircraft Division (MTAD) facility in Seville, Spain.
Presented to the customers, the world’s press and presided over by His Majesty Juan-Carlos I, King of Spain, the new aircraft heralds a new era in military airlift capability.
Designed to a recognised requirement for a new airlifter for European air forces, the A400M incorporates state-of-the-art materials and technology that are being continuously perfected in today’s civil aircraft fleets. Features such as electronic flight controls, carbon composite structures and an automated handling system will bring new standards of operability and safety to military aircrews.
Launched under a single contract in 2003 with 180 orders for seven European launch customers, the A400M represents the most ambitious military procurement programme ever undertaken in Europe. The launch customer nations, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Germany, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom were subsequently joined by Malaysia and the Republic of South Africa, which recognised the potential of the new airlifter for their own requirements and brought the total number of commitments to 192.
"Today is a great day for our industry," said Carlos Suarez, CEO of Airbus Military and Head of MTAD: "This is the result of the combined effort and determination of those that have been involved in this programme. It has been supported by the national governments - our customers, the industrial partners, the suppliers, and all the employees who have worked to produce the aircraft. I would like to thank and congratulate them all."
The overall contract, worth some 20 billion Euros was signed with a single interface between Airbus Military and OCCAR, (Organisation Conjointe de Cooperation en matière d’ARmement), the contractual body representing all seven European customer nations.
"It is our joint determination to show that EADS can design and manufacture a long-range transport aircraft which will set new standards in the military airlift world and on the international markets", said Louis Gallois, CEO of EADS
Versatility is the characteristic that best describes the A400M, it being conceived with both tactical and strategic capability. With a payload of up to 37 tonnes over ranges of up to 4700 nm, the A400M is designed to carry all loads and vehicles in the European Staff Requirement (ESR) inventory, serve as an aerial delivery platform and act as an in-flight refueller for both fast jets and helicopters.
Important challenges are still ahead, like the engine first flight on the FTB within the engine flight test programme or the MSN001 first flight.
The A400M is the first truly new military transport aircraft of its category designed in over 30 years, with twice the capacity and twice the payload of the current aircraft types that it will replace. It is all set to become the new standard in military airlift.