UK Royal Air Force to boost A400M fleet readiness via extended Airbus support deal

Enhanced in-service sustainment pact will deliver 30% increase in number of Atlas airlifters ready for duty each day.
The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) is to boost its operationally available fleet of A400M Atlas tactical transports by 30% via an extended support deal with Airbus.

Announced on 1 October, the 31-month follow-on phase for an existing in-service support deal is valued at £190 million ($251 million), the Ministry of Defence (MoD) says.

“The extension will see Airbus continue its maintenance, repair and support services for the RAF’s A400M Atlas fleet from its UK support centre at RAF Brize Norton,” the MoD says.

Additionally, the new deal “is set to deliver a significant boost to operational capability and will increase the number of fully mission-capable aircraft available each day from 10 to 13 by the end of 2027”, it adds.

The RAF has a total of 22 of the turboprop-powered airlifters in its inventory, which aviation analytics company Cirium records as aged between three and 12 years.

The MoD’s extended medium-term contract with Airbus will run until April 2029, supporting 350 jobs at the company and its subcontractors.

“Our highly skilled teams work side by side with Royal Air Force personnel and are fully focused on enhancing operational readiness, keeping the fleet mission-ready,” says Airbus Defence & Space UK managing director Kata Escott.

With the UK having retired the last of its Lockheed Martin C-130Js in mid-2023, the A400M now delivers the RAF’s entire tactical airlift capability. It also operates eight larger Boeing C-17 strategic transports and has a core fleet of nine A330 Voyager tanker/transports.

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