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A400M
LONDON–A new maintenance and support deal with Airbus aims to grow the availability of the UK Royal Air Force’s (RAF) A400M airlifter fleet by 30%.
The UK defense ministry announced Oct. 1 that it has awarded the airframer a £190 million ($250 million) contract extension for maintenance, repair and support services at the A400M main operating base at Brize Norton, England.
As part of the contract, the RAF is calling for an increase in the availability of the 22-strong fleet of mission-capable aircraft from 10 to 13 each day by the end of 2027. The contract extends Airbus’ Medium-Term contract by 31 months to April 2029.
The airlifter is now the backbone of the UK’s tactical airlift capability following the retirement of the Lockheed C-130J Hercules in 2023. The type did not have the smoothest entry into service as it faced a range of serviceability issues, although availability has steadily improved since then.
“This contract will deliver continued improvements in A400M fleet availability, building on the growth that we have delivered over recent years and giving our armed forces the capability they need,” said Air Commodore Simon Young, head of air mobility at National Armaments – Materiel, the UK’s defense materiel agency.
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