PHOTO: Airbus A400M sports Malaysian AF roundels for Asian tour

Photo © Airbus Military. Click on thumbnail for hi-res image

The Airbus Military A400M new generation airlifter for the 21st Century, is to visit Asia between April 14 and 20. Malaysia, an A400M customer, is the first and longest stop of its three-nation Asia tour, with the aircraft staying there from 14 – 17 April. The tour continues with visits to Jakarta, Indonesia, and Chiang Mai and Bangkok, Thailand, before returning to Europe. In this photo A400M EC-404 shows off its temporary Royal Malaysian Air Force roundels applied for the Malaysian leg of the tour.

See earlier story for more details of the A400M's Asian tour.

Airbus A400M to make Asian debut with 3-nation tour

Airbus Military has announced that its A400M Grizzly new generation airlifter will carry out an Asian tour between April 14 and 20. During this time the aircraft will visit Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.

The Royal Malaysian Air Force has ordered 4 aircraft, due to be delivered in 2015.

A400M contract amendment signed; test fleet passes 1,400 flight hours

Airbus Military's A400M programme has received a boost with the signature of a contract amendment on the behalf of its seven European customers. Meanwhile, flight-testing continues apace with the test fleet passing 1,400h in almost 450 sorties.

Airbus Military to launch A400M series production

Airbus Military has given the green light to launch series production of its A400M Grizzly airlifter. The controversial aircraft - which has been dogged by delays and political fighting over funding - will finally start rolling off the production line later this year.

A400M starts tanker trials with RAF VC10

Airbus Military's A400M development aircraft "Grizzly 1" has begun in-flight refuelling receiver trials behind a Royal Air Force Vickers VC10 tanker. MSN1 performed a series of dry contacts with the VC10's fuselage-mounted hose drum unit near Toulouse. The current tests are scheduled to conclude late this week.

A400M, KC-390 to reshape transport market

With the winding down and possibly eventual cessation of C-17 production on the horizon, Flightglobal reckons that the Airbus A400M and Embraer KC-390 are well-placed to capture the strategic airlift market. However the challenge facing both designs is the relatively niche nature of the market for large airlifters.

Germany may further reduce A400M fleet by selling aircraft

Despite further commitment to stay with the troubled airlifter program, but the Luftwaffe might end up with just 40 Airbus A400M transports according to officials from its coalition government. Originally committed to 60 aircraft, Germany cut its order to 53 last year and is now proposing to sell 13 of the remaining aircraft overseas.

Airbus A400M begins major fatigue testing

Major fatigue testing of the Airbus Military A400M has begun on schedule in Dresden, Germany. Test airframe MSN5001 will be subjected to a punishing regime of loads 24 hours per day for an initial four weeks, eventually simulating 160 flights per day.

Fourth A400M Takes Off

In another milestone for the troubled Airbus A400M program, the fourth development A400M aircraft has made its maiden flight from Seville, Spain. Dubbed Grizzly 4, its maiden flight lasted a little over five hours and will be used to test freight handling and in-flight refueling.

First paratroops jump from A400M

Airbus Military has completed the first paratroop drop tests involving its A400M "Grizzly". The personnel were drawn from the UK and French armed forces and jumped from the aircraft's rear ramp and left hand paratroop door.

Airbus says A400M is close to air drop tests

Airbus Military is poised to perform its first air-drop assessments with the A400M transport after the first development aircraft concluded currently ongoing artificial ice trials in Toulouse.

Germany cuts A400M commitment

Despite a commitment of 180 units that was negotiated as part of a general settlement reached in March, the European A400M partners continue to reduce their orders. Germany has now cut its commitment from 60 to 53 aircraft, hot on the heels of the UK reducing its order by three.

Summary of UK's Strategic Defence and Security Review

The British Ministry of Defence has put up a summary of the changes which will occur as a result of the Strategic Defence and Security Review which has just been made public. Most of the details reported here yesterday have come to pass, and among other things:

• Either the HMS Ocean or HMS Illustrious will be decommissioned, and after a capabilities study comparing the two, instead of the HMS Illustrious as reported


• The upcoming buy of Chinooks will be reduced to 12 from 22


• The Nimrod MRA.4 program will be cancelled


• All RAF C-130s to be withdrawn ten years ahead of schedule in favour of the A400M