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2024-01-13
Blazes Beware: A400M Transforms, Tackles Wildfires
Imagine a colossal aircraft, capable of tackling wildfires with incredible precision and power. That’s no longer a fantasy, thanks to Airbus Defence and Space’s A400M, now equipped with a game-changing firefighting kit!
In a daring two-week flight-test blitz across Spain, the A400M unleashed 20,000 litres of retardant, painting the sky with high-intensity lines spanning 400 metres. With six dramatic drops, including a vivid display of red retardant and water, this ground-breaking initiative sets a new standard in firefighting technology.
The versatile roll-on/roll-off kit requires no aircraft modification, seamlessly fitting into any A400M in the fleet. Stored in the cargo hold, a tank holds water or retardant, released via a simple mechanical lever.
Gravity guides the liquid through a discharge pipe, with the current prototype designed for an impressive 20,000-litre single discharge capacity.
Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Military Air Systems at Airbus Defence and Space, explained: “We have tested a new version of the kit, improving dropping efficiency and reducing discharge time by over 30 per cent compared to last year, while combined with rapid deployment and easy installation on the A400M aircraft. We continue to pioneer new solutions and capabilities for our A400M fleet, in this case protecting populations and natural environments from fires.”
Standout Features
In under 10 minutes, standard high-pressure pumps swiftly fill the tanks on the ground. The A400M’s standout features include its capability to navigate short, unpaved runways, expanding its reach to various air bases and fields.
The 43rd Firefighting Squadron of the Spanish Air Force played a pivotal role during the campaign, serving as technical advisors. Their involvement underscores the operational significance of this A400M capability, validating its potential for any future operator.
In July 2022, Airbus tested a removable firefighting demonstrator kit on the A400M for the first time. It concluded that the A400M firefighting kit offers additional capabilities not available on the market thanks to its high-dropping capacity, high manoeuvrability with the latest safety standards, day and night operation and the potential to convert any regular A400M in any fleet to a firefighting aircraft at very short notice.
The A400M “Atlas” stands as the pinnacle of advanced airlifters, boasting certifications and a track record that prove its superiority. Harnessing 21st-century tech, it meets present and future armed forces’ demands seamlessly.
This powerhouse merges the capacity for strategic loads with unparalleled access to tactical spots, mastering small, unprepared airstrips while doubling as a frontline-tanker.
Lighthouse Project
The European A400M operators — France, Germany, BeLux, Spain, and the UK as an observer — are improving its interoperability and boosting its military readiness while reducing costs, thanks to the Lighthouse Project, an initiative coordinated by the European Air Transport Command (EATC).
In a 15-day exercise in June 2023 at France’s 123 Orléans-Bricy air base, France, Germany, BeLux, and Spain showcased five A400Ms and one CN235. The UK participated as an observer. This rigorous training included eight missions and 48 flights, achieving an impressive 91.7 per cent success rate.
The Lighthouse Project has four pillars: cross-maintenance, cross-ground handling, cross-mission preparation and cross-parachuting, with the A400M as a catalyst due to its primacy as the predominant air mobility platform in Europe.
Following the publication of the first cross-maintenance operations manual for the A400M by EATC in April 2023, the first operational demonstration kicked off in Orléans, with the establishment of multinational teams of technicians working on the A400M.
Innovative Approach
While progress continues, the Lighthouse Project’s aim is to implement this innovative approach in future operational endeavours like the German Air Force’s Rapid Pacific or the French Air Force’s Operation Pégase.
By sharing and consolidating resources and procedures, this concept minimises logistical footprints among partner nations and fosters knowledge exchange among A400M operators.
The Green Flag exercise in November in the United States with German and Spanish A400M demonstrated that the complexity of the cross-maintenance and cross-operations will be greater, with the aim of increasing harmonisation amongst partner nations in the air-mobility spectrum.
This joint venture will extend to other platforms such as the A330 MRTT, operated in Europe by France, Spain, and the UK, along with NATO’s Multinational MRTT Fleet (Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway and the Netherlands).
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