Airbus Military A400M makes first landing in Malaysia

The Airbus Military A400M new generation airlifter recently arrived in Malaysia at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Subang Airbase as part of its Asia tour, where a welcome ceremony took place today in the presence of the Chief of the Royal Malaysian Air Force. The visit, the first time that the A400M will be seen in Asia, will give the Malaysian Government and Air Force a chance to see the A400M at first hand. The Malaysian Government has ordered four of the new aircraft which has as its launch customer nations Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Turkey and the UK. 

Airbus Military Senior Vice President for Commercial, Strategy and Industrial Relations, Asia, Ignacio Alonso said at the occasion of the welcoming ceremony: It is with immense pleasure and pride that we bring the A400M to our highly valued customer, the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Malaysian Government. During the visit of the A400M here in Malaysia we will show the exceptional capabilities of the aircraft to the Chief of the Air Force and the Minister of Defense as well as other Air Force staff and invited guests. The A400M will perfectly respond to the national and international needs of the Royal Malaysian Air Force as well as allow the most effective participation in humanitarian missions. We look forward to a long and fruitful cooperation with Malaysia.

Airbus Military Chief Test Pilot, Ed Strongman, added: I have had the pleasure of showing the Chief of the RMAF the A400M simulator in France last year and now I look forward to showing him, and his RMAF personnel, the real aircraft flying here in Malaysia.  We have done a lot of work since his last visit to Toulouse and have now completed all the flight test work for the issue of the initial Type Certificate.

This year we are expanding the aircraft capabilities to achieve its full potential – short field and unpaved runway operations, air drop of equipment, and Air to Air Refuelling are just a few examples of our present flight test activities.  We look forward to seeing our magnificent A400M in service with the Royal Malaysian Air Force.

The A400M is an all new military airlifter designed to meet the needs of the world Armed Forces in the 21st Century. Thanks to its most advanced technologies, it is able to fly higher, faster and further, while retaining high manoeuvrability, low speed, and short, soft and rough airfield capabilities. It combines both tactical and strategic/logistic missions, while being also able to be used as a tanker plane. With its cargo hold specifically designed to carry the outsize equipment needed today for both military and humanitarian disaster relief missions, it can bring this material quickly and directly to where it is most needed. 

Conceived to be highly reliable, dependable, and with a great survivability, the multipurpose A400M can do the job of three of today different aircraft models in a single one. This means smaller fleets and less investment from the operator. Able to do more with less, the A400M is the most cost efficient and versatile airlifter ever conceived and absolutely unique in its capabilities. 

Airbus Military is the only military and civic/humanitarian transport aircraft manufacturer to develop, produce, sell and support a comprehensive family of airlifters ranging from three to 45 tonnes of payload. An Airbus daughter company, Airbus Military is responsible for the A400M programme, as well as the Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A330 and for further military derivatives based on Airbus civil aircraft. Together with the smaller Light & Medium C295, CN235 and C212, Airbus Military is the global leader in the market for military transport, tanker and surveillance aircraft able to perform the most varied missions. Altogether, Airbus Military has sold more than 1,000 aircraft to some 130 military, civilian and governmental customers. More than 800 of these aircraft have been delivered. Airbus is an EADS company.

For further information please visit www.airbusmilitary.com