A400M Spearheads Joint European Military Airlift Plans

New prospects for a unified European airlift force are emerging from progress with the Airbus Military Company's A400M medium-lift, four-turboprop transport program, for which initial firm orders are imminent. Formal launch of the potential $20 billion, seven-nation program for an initial 225 A400Ms at last year's Farnborough air show was followed in November by selection of the TP400 engine from the new Turboprop International (TPI) group, as their preferred powerplant.

As a dexterous technological and political marriage from competing BMW/Rolls-Royce and Snecma bids, the 10,000- to 13,000-shp TP400 combines the core of Snecma's M88-2 twin-shaft military turbofan, from its M138 A400M submission, with three-shaft Trent technology developed by Rolls-Royce, although not featured in its BR715TP proposal. The former rivals now operate in the six-nation TPI consortium, which also includes Germany's MTU, as equal 25% partner, to assemble the TP400, plus Italy's FiatAvio, Spain's Industria de Turbopropulsores, and Belgium's Techspace Aero. Initial $2.5 billion requirements are for 1,000 or more fuel-efficient TP400s, allowing the 130-ton A400M to meet its planned Mach 0.68-0.72 cruise, and maximum 37-ton payload range of 2,580 nmi.

Joint A400M commitments made last year by European Defense Ministers to fulfill their future strategic and tactical military air transport requirements comprised Belgium (7), France (50), Germany (73), Italy (16), Spain (27), Turkey (26), and Britain (25). Luxembourg also joined the program, for one A400M, with Belgian procurement help. Portugal has since rejoined as a full member, to acquire four A400Ms, increasing original launch orders to 229 aircraft, for initial deliveries (two for UK and one for France) from mid/late-2007. Turkish defense cuts, however, will reduce its commitment to 20 A400Ms.

Germany's decision last November to allocate DM10 billion ($4.4 billion) of funding towards its A400M requirement was crucial to continuation of the A400M program, for which the Luftwaffe is initially the largest customer. Some concern has been expressed, however, at the current shortfall from the DM16.8 billion, which is Germany's full estimated A400M requirement cost. The latter total indicates German estimates of about $104 million for an A400M program unit cost, presumably including spares and technical support.

With France, Germany has been in the forefront of moves to expand earlier plans for joint A400M engineering, technical and logistic support, into pooling European military airlift resources, including those of the RAF, under EU control, and independent of NATO. These proposals are linked with an agreement reached by the UK in February with six other NATO members of the European Air Group (EAG), for planned RAF partnership in the pooled Air Transport and Air Refueling Exchange of Services (ATARES) program. Formed in mid-1995 by Britain and France, the EAG has since expanded to include Belgium, Italy and Spain, followed in February by Germany and Holland.

An Interim International Program Office, staffed from the A400M launch nations, was established earlier this year at Toulouse. The IIPO will manage procurement issues up to and beyond contract signature, pending formation of an A400M Program Division by OCCAR (Organisme Conjoint de Co-operation en matiere d'Armement), the European arms procurement agency through which the aircraft will be acquired.

By John Fricker