Germany has taken another step toward ordering 16 additional Airbus A400M military transport aircraft after the Bundestag's Budget Committee approved amendments to the country's proposed 2027 defense budget. The decision, announced by the German Defense Ministry on November 13, allows the acquisition to proceed through the next stages of the parliamentary process.
The new aircraft would be delivered in a tactical configuration, with equipment designed to operate in higher-threat environments. The ministry said the changes would enable the Bundeswehr to acquire aircraft suitable for missions across the full spectrum of military threats.
The purchase is not yet a firm order. Germany's 2027 budget still requires final parliamentary approval, with the remaining readings scheduled for the coming weeks. No contract with Airbus or delivery timetable has been announced.
The decision follows Defense Minister Boris Pistorius's announcement in September that Germany was considering replacing 16 A400Ms configured primarily for logistics missions with more capable aircraft. The plan, reported in October, would allow the Luftwaffe to retain its fleet of 53 A400Ms, with the aircraft being replaced potentially transferred to partner countries.
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For Airbus, the proposed order could provide an important extension to A400M production at its final assembly line in Seville, Spain. According to the manufacturer's latest figures, 178 A400Ms had been ordered and 141 delivered by October 31, 2026, leaving just 37 aircraft in the backlog. A German contract for 16 additional transports would increase that backlog by approximately 43%.
New orders could extend A400M production
Airbus has reduced A400M production to around eight aircraft annually as deliveries to the original European customers approach completion. At that rate, the German purchase would represent approximately two additional years of work for the assembly line.
The manufacturer is also developing new capabilities to attract customers beyond the aircraft's traditional transport role. In June, Airbus received a contract to develop the Parallel Mission System for France, allowing the A400M to perform intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions and potentially coordinate drones and missiles launched from its cargo hold. The first aircraft is scheduled to receive the equipment in 2027, followed by flight testing in 2028.
Other developments under consideration include long-range electronic warfare, increasing payload capacity from 37 to 40 tonnes and an aerial firefighting system capable of releasing 20,000 liters (5,283 US gallons) of water or retardant. Airbus has also contracted the Block Upgrade 0 package, which includes improved tactical information systems, satellite-based landing capabilities and communications enhancements.
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Germany is not the only potential buyer. Poland, France and Denmark are also considering additional A400Ms, with possible purchases across the four countries totaling as many as 42 aircraft.
