Airbus A400M

The Airbus A400M is a very general-purpose military aircraft, as well intended for the transport of troops (men and vehicles) that with the missions of medical evacuation, isolated base or in-flight refueling. It is in particular able to release its cargo at low altitude.

Its first flight is programmed for 2008.

History

Program A400M began in September 1997 by a request ( Request for Proposal , RFP) from eight European air forces addressed to the future company Airbus Military .

In June 2001 was signed a Slackness ( Memorandum off Understanding ), but the Italy (government Berlusconi) was disengaged later on with the profit of apparatuses C-130 the J and lightest C-27J. The May 31st 2003, the seven countries engaged for the future purchases and the program was officially launched.

As for the other Airbus, the parts of the apparatus will be manufactured by several countries.

But program A400M is managed by the joint Organization of co-operation as regards armament. This program is most important in financial volume for OCCAr, and certainly one of the largest programs of armament of the 20 or 30 next years, which represents a weight of 20 billion euros.

Orders

May 27th, 2003, a contract is signed between Airbus Military and the OCCAr for a total of 180 apparatuses.

Since, the plane was ordered by two other countries, nonEuropean, and the number of specimens amounts to 192.

Design

A400M is equipped with four Turbopropulseur S contrarotating involving of the propellers with eight blades, but which are not contrarotating propellers with the clean direction of the term (see Sens of rotation of the propellers).

Profiting from synergies of the range of Airbus, it is built mainly with composite materials which have many advantages, in particular as regards furtivity radar.

Positioning on the market

A400M often is compared and put in competition with the Lockheed C-130 Hercules. Actually, it is much larger, being located more close to Lockheed C-141 Starlifter.

It can be classified as strategic conveyer and will have even a utility as a Tanker, without however replacing a plane specialized in this field.

A potentially frightening competitor is the Antonov Year-70 that Russia tried besides to sell in Europe before program A400M is not launched.

Direction of rotation of the propellers

A detail has much importance: the concept DBE (Down Between Engines), i.e. " downward blades between the moteurs".

The direction of rotation of the propellers of the internal and external engines is symmetrical on the two wings, the movement going down from the blades occurring between the engines approximately in the middle of the wing, so that the flow of the breath of the blades is concentrated.

This has many implications: less efforts on the aerofoil, therefore possible lightening of the structure, which makes it possible to increase the bearing pressure. Moreover, the size of the drift could be reduced, which offers a longer passable distance or the carrying of a heavier payload for the same quantity of fuel.

Envisaged use

Dimensions of the compartment (length, width, height): 17,71 X 4,00 X 3,85 Mr.

One of the major assets of Airbus A400M will be its autonomy. However, it never yet was useful for a military campaign.

Startup

The first flights of test will be carried out in August 2008 and a400M will gradually replace the C-160 Transall of the air forces Frenchwoman, allemande and Turkish, the first standard appliance having to be delivered to the French Air force starting from October 2009.

For France, the rate/rhythm of delivery will be of three apparatuses the first year, then of five apparatuses per annum the following years. What poses a problem, because C-160 Transall will start to be withdrawn starting from 2005: they can theoretically be replaced by C-130J. But it will be a question of converting whole squadrons on a new machine, and more only of adding some specimens at the squadrons which are already equipped with it.

Moreover, the October 17th 2007, a delay of six months of the first flight (initially envisaged in January 2008) was announced, " because of the slow progression of the development of the moteur" (Rolls-Royce). What shifts of as much the first delivery, pushing back it in first half of the year 2010 at best. This delay are added the interrogations of the Rolls-Royce motor mechanic who still qualified in November 2007 his own engine of " fragile". This generates a loss of more than 1 billion euros for EADS

See too

List of the military aircrafts
Airbus
EADS

External bonds

Site of Airbus (military)
Characteristic of a400M
the breaking news of the advance of the program
Images of a400M
OCCAR: an example practices European co-operation as regards defense.
Site of the OCCAR
critical Elements on this plane

Sources

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