LONDON: Airbus Defence and Space, a global leader in military transport, tanker, fighter and surveillance aircraft manufacturing, aims to secure between 300 and 400 firm orders for the A400M airlifter in the next 30 years.
Its executive vice-president of marketing and sales, Christian Scherer said the A400M, the most versatile airlifter so far, has generated a lot of interest among air forces across the globe.
“Several of our customers are already using the aircraft intensively in their operations. In fact, our best advocates are the air forces themselves.
“We have a number of quite specific requests and we are confident of a confirmed interest for a new order for the A400M from a customer this year,” he said.
Malaysia has ordered four A400Ms, while orders from Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Turkey and the UK bring the total to 174 for the airlifter so far.
The A400M can perform a three-in-one role, firstly, a strategic capability of transporting heavy and outsize loads, and flying at high altitude and high speed over a long range.
Secondly, a tactical capability of operating on short and soft unpaved airstrips, and thirdly, serving as an air-to-air refuelling tanker.
Scherer said the A400M filled a gap in the market and there is no direct competitor that could match the A400M capabilities, thus Airbus Defence and Space is confident of having a very healthy order book for the airlifter.
He said the A400M would adorn the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) colours at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition 2015 (Lima’15) from March 17 to 21. – Bernama, March 14, 2015.
