(Luft) Airbus A400 M

[M004A]

Im August und September 2025 hat die Airbus-Werksmaschine EC-406 längere Zeit von Wunstorf aus Flugversuche in Altengrabow unternommen. Airbus hat nun veröffentlicht, worum es da ging: Daten sammeln, um die Möglichkeiten für den Einsatz auf kurzen unbefestigten Pisten weiter auszubauen.

Bericht mit Video: Airbus A400M: Landing where others can't to deliver more aid

The recent flight testing took place in the German town of Altengrabow, in the summer of 2025. It aimed to demonstrate the A400M’s ability to operate under extended weight conditions and on softer, vegetation-covered runways. The testing is part of the wider capability enhancement agreement with OCCAR (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d'Armement), the organisation that manages the programme on behalf of the launch customer nations.

For Jorge Palau, project Chief Engineer, being able to operate an aircraft as large as the A400M from soft, vegetated runways is a “game changer” for customers. This enhancement will enable users to operate beyond their current capabilities, providing critical flexibility in the face of global challenges:

Increased payload: Once certified, the expanded capability in these unpaved environments means that the A400M can carry more people, material, or vehicles, requiring fewer rotations. In military contexts, this reduces risk.
Humanitarian missions: For humanitarian relief and disaster assistance, this enhanced payload capacity on soft-field runways enables the rapid delivery of critical goods and services closer to the point of need. For instance, in January 2025, during the relief operation following the cyclone that hit Mayotte Island in the Indian Ocean, French A400Ms were able to land at the small local airport and deliver aid. Additionally, A400Ms from Turkey and four other armed forces formed the backbone of the humanitarian air corridor established in 2023 following the devastating earthquakes in eastern Turkey and Syria.

Special Operations (SOF): The ability to use austere air facilities is crucial in addressing current global challenges. In theatres like the Sahel for anti-terrorist operations, the A400M's low-level flight capability often complements its ability to land on unprepared strips, enabling missions that require rapid, discreet entry deep into operational areas. This allows reaching remote locations for personnel extraction and transporting goods, thereby strengthening transport capabilities on unpaved runways.

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Now that the current campaign is complete, the next steps include additional testing, a certification phase and the delivery of the enhanced capability to the global fleet, without the need for any aircraft modifications.