In Brief: France Plans A400M Firefighting Missions Soon

A400m Firefighting
The French government is moving ahead with plans to use the Airbus A400M airlifter for aerial firefighting as the country battles widespread wildfires amid a prolonged heat wave. An agreement between France’s interior and defense ministries and Airbus will initially use one of the country’s A400Ms on an experimental basis, the government said July 23. Airbus has developed and demonstrated a firefighting system capable of dropping 20 metric tons (22 tons) of fire retardant from the transport aircraft. France said it has begun preparations, including crew training, to deploy the A400M in the firefighting role in the near term. The aircraft would augment the more than 50 airplanes and helicopters currently fighting wildfires across France under Operation Sentinelle.