The UK will increase the number of mission-ready A400M Atlas transport aircraft available each day by 30 percent under a 190-million-pound ($250-million) contract with Airbus.
The 31-month extension will keep Airbus providing maintenance, repair, and support services for the Royal Air Force (RAF) fleet from its UK Support Centre at Brize Norton until April 2029.
It is expected to raise the number of fully mission-capable aircraft available each day from 10 to 13 by the end of 2027.
More than 350 UK jobs will be sustained under the deal, including more than 240 Airbus positions and 110 primary subcontractor roles.
“By boosting availability of these aircraft, we’re strengthening the RAF’s ability to conduct global operations and deliver on NATO commitments when it matters most, while backing UK jobs and delivering value for money for taxpayers,” Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard said.
The A400M Atlas Fleet
The A400M Atlas is the RAF’s main tactical transport aircraft and sits between the smaller C-130J and larger C-17 in the service’s airlift fleet. It entered service in 2014, with all 22 aircraft ordered by the UK delivered by 2023.
Powered by four Europrop International TP400 turboprop engines, the Atlas can carry large loads to established airports or austere locations. Its maximum payload is 37 tonnes (81,571 pounds), while its cargo configuration can accommodate up to 116 passengers, nine aircraft pallets and 54 passengers, or 66 stretchers.
That flexibility has made the aircraft a regular part of UK overseas operations. RAF Atlas aircraft have supported humanitarian relief, evacuation missions, troop movements, and logistics operations, including deployments to the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific.
The fleet is also being developed for future missions. Airbus and the RAF have explored capabilities including operating drones from the A400M and using the aircraft for firefighting, while the platform continues to receive upgrades to keep it relevant for decades of service.