Germany is considering the purchase of 16 additional Airbus A400M military transport aircraft, a potential order that could extend production of the European airlifter at a critical point for the program.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius confirmed this week that the government is examining the acquisition of 16 new A400Ms. The proposal still requires parliamentary approval and no contract has been signed.
The aircraft would not increase the Luftwaffe fleet from its current 53 A400Ms to 69. Instead, Germany plans to replace 16 existing aircraft that lack some of the equipment required for tactical operations in hostile environments.
Those aircraft were originally configured primarily for logistical transport and do not have the complete self-protection suite fitted to more capable A400Ms. Germany would seek to transfer them to partner countries after receiving their replacements.
Follow Air Data News: WhatsApp | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook
The proposal comes only months after Airbus delivered Germany's 53rd and final A400M from its original order, completing a procurement program that made the country the largest operator of the type.
Discussions about another order had already emerged earlier this year, when German sources indicated that between 10 and 20 additional aircraft were under consideration.
Two more years for A400M production
A German order would have consequences well beyond the Luftwaffe. Airbus has progressively reduced A400M output as the program's backlog declined and currently plans to produce around eight aircraft per year. Existing orders provide work for the final assembly line in Seville until around the end of the decade.
An order for 16 aircraft would therefore represent approximately two years of production at the current rate, providing Airbus with additional time to secure export customers and avoid shutting down the line.
The future of the A400M has become an increasingly important issue for Airbus and the European governments involved in the program. Major original customers have already received most or all of their contracted aircraft, while export orders have remained relatively limited.
Related news
Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom operate the A400M, while Malaysia, Kazakhstan and Indonesia have also selected the aircraft.
Keeping production running for several additional years could be particularly important if European countries decide to expand tactical airlift capacity amid higher defense spending.
New aircraft would have greater tactical capability
The 16 proposed German aircraft would differ from the less-capable A400Ms they are intended to replace.
Germany wants aircraft equipped for tactical operations in higher-threat environments, including improved self-protection systems. Other capabilities under discussion include permanent satellite communications and equipment intended to increase the A400M's usefulness during combat operations.
The Luftwaffe and Airbus have also been studying additional roles for the type. These include using the A400M as a platform to launch unmanned aircraft and potentially stand-off weapons, expanding its role beyond conventional troop and cargo transport.
Germany has already created financial room for further spending on the program. Parliamentary budget authorities increased future commitments associated with the A400M through 2032 from slightly more than €1.4 billion (US$1.65 billion) to €3.59 billion (US$4.23 billion).
The A400M occupies a position between tactical transports such as the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules and larger strategic aircraft such as the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, whose production ended in 2015.
Powered by four Europrop International TP400-D6 turboprops, the Airbus transport can carry up to 37 tonnes of payload and operate from relatively short and unprepared runways.
