ALMATY, 11 DEC – Kazakhstan has officially joined the family of A400M operators with the delivery of its first aircraft from Airbus Defence and Space.
Airbus announced that the aircraft was handed over to the Kazakh government following a delivery flight from Seville, Spain.
The Central Asian nation had initially placed an order for two A400M aircraft in 2021. According to Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Military Air Systems at Airbus Defence and Space, Kazakhstan is set to receive its second A400M in 2026.
“With over a decade of proven performance in military and humanitarian missions worldwide, the A400M is a game-changer for the Kazakhstan Air Defence Forces,” Dumont said in a statement. “It provides unmatched tactical and strategic capabilities in a single platform.”
Airbus confirmed that the second aircraft for Kazakhstan is currently under production.
Globally, over 130 A400M units have been delivered to nine customer nations, accumulating more than 200,000 flight hours.
The A400M is recognized as a versatile tactical and strategic transport aircraft capable of performing a variety of missions.
Beyond transport operations, the aircraft, powered by four Europrop TP400-D6 turboprop engines, has been deployed in rescue and disaster relief missions. It has also played a pivotal role in evacuation efforts in countries such as Afghanistan, Sudan, and Niger.
In August, the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) successfully utilized an A400M to evacuate 127 Palestinians from Egypt for medical treatment in Malaysia.
The A400M can also serve as an aerial refueling platform. Indonesia’s recent acquisition of the aircraft includes a configuration for Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) capabilities. – airtimes.my
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