On December 5, 2024, in accordance with the contract signed in 2021 with the Spanish company Airbus Defence and Space, an A-400M aircraft arrived in Almaty to support the Air Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The ceremony was attended by the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Colonel General Ruslan Zhaksylykov; Hero of the Soviet Union and Halyk Kaharmany, Major General of Aviation Toktar Aubakirov; Head of the RSE «Kazspetsexport» under the State Defense Order Committee of the Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Rishat Asanseitov; Vice President of Airbus Defence and Space, Jose Luis De Miguel; representative of Airbus Military, Elena Parilla Martin; retired Colonel Vladimir Platoshin, a veteran of the Armed Forces of Kazakhstan; personnel of the military transport squadron; servicemen from the Airborne Assault Troops; students of the Civil Aviation Academy; and alumni of the «Zhas Sarbaz» movement.
The Airbus A-400M is a versatile aircraft designed to handle a wide range of tasks. Primarily, it is used for transporting heavy equipment such as armored personnel carriers, artillery, and helicopters. The aircraft will also play a critical role in the rapid delivery of humanitarian aid during emergencies, as well as troop evacuation and transfer.
The A-400M will serve as a crucial tool for both military and humanitarian missions. It opens up new opportunities for Kazakhstan’s involvement in international peacekeeping efforts and enhances the country’s standing on the global stage.
The leadership of the Ministry of Defense and RSE «Kazspetsexport» expressed gratitude for the close cooperation and active involvement in the training of Kazakhstani specialists at the aviation training center in Seville, Spain.
With this acquisition, the Republic of Kazakhstan becomes the ninth operator of the A-400M, joining Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Turkey, Belgium, Malaysia, and Luxembourg. It is also the first operator of this aircraft in Central Asia and Eastern Europe.
Technical Specifications of the Airbus A-400M:
The Airbus A-400M has a payload capacity of 37 000 kilograms. The maximum speed of the A-400M military transport aircraft is 802 kilometers per hour, the flight altitude is 12 200 meters, and the practical range is 7 870 kilometers.