Airbus Defence and Space plans to open a new A330 MRTT conversion centre in Seville, Spain, by the end of 2027. The facility will increase annual aircraft conversion capacity, support maintenance work and upgrade aircraft already in service.
Airbus has delivered the first A400M military transport aircraft to Indonesia; the first of two ordered in 2021, to support transport, humanitarian, and potential firefighting missions across the archipelago. With this delivery, Indonesia has become the tenth operator of the tactical airlifter.
While French troops had left the military-run country last year, the last U.S. troops are also expected to imminently depart the country, with Russian troops already on site to take their place after creating a presence in Mali and Burkina Faso, also taken over by the military.
According to Airbus, ‘In military aviation, a Wingman is a pilot in another aircraft that protects and supports the flight lead, delivers more tactical options and thus contributes to mission success. In the Airbus concept, the Wingman is going to operate very much in the same way – only that it is neither a pilot nor a fighter jet flown by one. It is a fighter-type drone that will be commanded by a pilot in a current combat aircraft such as the Eurofighter and can take on high-risk mission tasks that would pose a bigger threat to manned-only aircraft.’
The Republic of Korea has selected the Brazilian Embraer C-390 for its transport aircraft requirement for an order estimated to be approximately worth USD 540 million. The C-390 was competing against the Lockheed Martin C-130J and the Airbus A400M, in a contest similar to the ongoing airlifter requirement of the Indian Air Force.
Enjoy this special video report of the flightline at the Dubai Airshow 2023 held earlier this month.
Embraer executives are in India to scout for industrial partners and brief the IAF on the aircraft, which might have a compelling case over the competing Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules and Airbus A400M airlifters.
Airbus went home from the Dubai Air Show 2021 with orders for two A400M aircraft from Indonesia and two A330 MRTT from the UAE, and an order for three aircraft from Spain just before the air show.
Saab has delayed the highly-anticipated first flight of the Gripen E fighter for something its customers haven’t even requested. Software that meets civilian standards.
StratPost spoke to Christian Scherer, Head of Sales and Marketing at Airbus Defence and Space the scope for the A-400M in India at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace exhibition (LIMA2015).
StratPost was invited to the annual Airbus Military Trade Media Briefing in Spain last week and, as it turned out, ended up getting a ride on the A400M. Read about the experience and check out all the pictures.
