Center for analysis of world arms trade (CAWAT), July 3. Airbus Defense and Space Company announced the transfer of the sixth ordered BTA A-400M aircraft to the Turkish Air Force. The transferred aircraft became the eighth A-400M which is delivered to customers in 2018.
As reported by CAWAT, the total order for the supply of A-400M aircraft is 174 units. (Germany – 53 units, France – 50 units, Spain – 27 units, Great Britain – 22 units, Turkey – 10 units, Belgium – 7 units, Luxembourg – 1 unit, Malaysia – 4 units).
In 2003, Turkey ordered 10 A-400M aircraft for its Air Force. The assembly of the first of these (MSN009) began at the company in Seville in July 2012. The ceremony of its transfer to the Turkish Air Forces took place at Airbus Defense and Space on April 4, 2014. The plane arrived in Turkey on April 16, 2014.
According to Airbus Defense and Space, at the moment were supplied 65 aircraft to customers, including: UK – 20 units, France – 14 units, Germany – 19 units, Malaysia – 4 units, Spain – 2 units. , Turkey – 6 units.
The A-400M is a tactical BTA aircraft with a range of flight comparable to strategic aircraft. The A-400M, equipped with four turboprop engines, which is capable of taking off and landing from short unprepared airstrips. The range of the aircraft with a cargo of 20 tons is 3,970 miles, with 30 tons – 2,820 miles, the range of distances is up to 5512 miles.
With a maximum payload of 37 tons, the A-400M can transport a wide range of military equipment of a non-standard size, including two AH-64 «Apache» helicopters, one CH-46 «Chinook», one «Patriot» rocket launcher of antiaircraft missile system, one M-109 SG plus cargo pallets and calculation, two M-113 armored personnel carriers and 30 assault personnel, one VBCI armored combat vehicle and 10 assault personnel, one heavy excavator plus cargo pallets and personnel.
