Actualización de noticias sobre el A400M, segunda quincena de julio.
France’s Air and Space Force announced that its sixth major long-range air power deployment, code-named PEGASE 26, will launch in early September 2026, sending four Rafale fighter jets built to the latest F4 operational standard across three strategic regions the French military considers critical to its global posture: the Arctic, the Indo-Pacific, and the Middle East.
The mission will involve four Rafale multirole fighters, three A330 MRTT refueling and transport aircraft known as Phénix, and two A400M Atlas heavy transport planes, all supporting roughly 300 French airmen over a 38-day operation. That combination of aircraft types matters because each plays a distinct role in letting France project combat power across distances the country could never cover with fighter jets alone. The Rafale delivers the fast, long-range strike capability at the center of the mission, the A330 MRTT tankers extend that reach by refueling the fighters mid-flight and doubling as cargo and troop transports, and the A400M provides what French officials describe as resilient, autonomous logistics support, carrying spare parts, ground equipment, and support personnel needed to keep the whole detachment operating independently far from any French home base.
Under the temporary operating plan, the A400M Atlas and C-17 Globemaster III fleets will primarily operate from MoD Boscombe Down, with occasional use of Bournemouth Airport. The A330 Voyager fleet will relocate to Prestwick, East Midlands and Stansted airports.
Aircraft began moving during July and will remain at their temporary operating locations until the runway programme is completed.
Airbus Pays £6.4 Million to Settle UK Export Control Investigation. Airbus has paid just over £6.4 million to settle a UK investigation into export control violations. The European aircraft manufacturer first disclosed the probe in 2024, involving several of its British business entities. Airbus said the agreement fully resolves the investigation, bringing the two-year regulatory matter to a close. The company voluntarily reported the issues and said it cooperated fully with authorities throughout the official review. People familiar with the case said the investigation focused on cross-border transfers involving A400M military aircraft components. The issue reportedly emerged during a 2022 audit that identified irregularities in export control compliance procedures. Airbus said it has already implemented comprehensive corrective measures to strengthen its export compliance systems going forward. The settlement follows a separate 2020 agreement with U.S. authorities over violations involving American military export regulations.
Spain will deploy to Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, Romania with seven F-18 fighter aircraft and around 200 Spanish Air and Space force personnel, one A400M providing air-to-air refuelling support, and three NH-90 helicopters in the final phase of the deployment, assigned to Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS)-tasks, for the enhanced Air Defence mission highlighting their standing commitment in protecting the Eastern Flank.
Extraño lo de enviar NH-90 como C-UAS...
Airbus Defence and Space (DS) has reported more customer interest in its A400M transport aircraft than at any time since the company signed its first export order in 2005.
Speaking at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026 (FIA26), the head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space (DS), Jean-Brice Dumont, said that this increased interest was the result of potential new customers, follow-on customers, and also the new shared NATO fleet that was recently announced.
“I have never seen negotiations around the A400M as large as the ones we have today, within this NATO framework and individual countries,” Dumont said on 22 July 2026, adding, “Do not forget that this aircraft is positioned both on the tactical and the strategic segment of military airlift – at the moment you might observe that there is no bigger transport aircraft in production.”
Airbus DS has to date received 178 orders for the A400M, of which 139 have so far been delivered. The company's order book for the A400M comprises Belgium (seven), France (50), Germany (53), Indonesia (two, plus options for four), Kazakhstan (two), Luxembourg (one), Malaysia (four), Spain (27), Türkiye (10), and the United Kingdom (22).
A ver si es verdad y por fin se logra algún contrato de exportación.
Se habla de 12 unidades importadas más 68 producidas en la India con más del 50% decomponentes producidos localmente. Si al final incluyen el requerimiento de operar desde pistas no preparadas y ser capaz de transportar el Zorowar (26T), el A400M partiría como favorito. El gran problema es el de siempre, si el precio manda pasa al final de la cola...
