NATO allies on June 7 agreed to deepen cooperation on the Airbus A400M military transport aircraft, launching a multinational initiative that could reshape how European countries share strategic airlift capabilities.
The agreement, signed by Belgium, Croatia, France, Poland, Spain, Türkiye and the United Kingdom during the NATO Defence Industry Forum in Ankara, lays the groundwork for a shared A400M fleet modelled on NATO’s successful Multinational MRTT tanker programme.
Rather than each country operating a large national fleet, participating allies would jointly share aircraft, maintenance, logistics, training and infrastructure, reducing costs while improving readiness.
Why was the A400M developed?
The Airbus A400M Atlas was developed to replace ageing Lockheed C-130 Hercules and Transall C-160 transport aircraft. European militaries wanted an aircraft capable of carrying heavier payloads than the C-130 while still operating from short, rough or unpaved runways, something larger airlifters such as the Boeing C-17 and Russia’s Il-76 cannot match as effectively.
Developed by Airbus Defence and Space, the A400M entered service in 2013 after years of delays and cost overruns. It has since become a cornerstone of European military air mobility, with more than 135 aircraft in service and over 270,000 flight hours.
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Built for two roles
The A400M combines strategic and tactical transport in a single platform.
Strategic transport moves troops and heavy equipment over long distances, while tactical transport delivers personnel and supplies directly to frontline or austere locations, often using short or unprepared runways.
Powered by four Europrop TP400 turboprop engines, it can carry up to 37 tonnes of cargo over roughly 3,400 nautical miles without refuelling. Airbus is working on upgrades to increase payload capacity to 40 tonnes.
A400M’s cargo hold can transport helicopters, armoured vehicles, engineering equipment, humanitarian aid or more than 100 fully equipped troops.
It can also operate from short and unpaved runways, perform medical evacuations, refuel helicopters and fighter jets in flight, deploy paratroopers and support firefighting operations.
