One of the highlights of Avalon 2015 was the presence of an Airbus Defence & Space A400M airlifter, operated by the French Air Force.
The arrival of the aircraft at Avalon marks the first visit to Australia by an A400M, which is now being marketed actively around the world by Airbus, as deliveries to initial customers ramp up.
It was conducting an around the world flight under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Olivier Luneau, from the French Air Force test unit, the Centre des Expérimentations Aériennes Militaires (CEAM), to verify the new aircraft’s capabilities.
The aircraft arrived at Avalon direct from Kuala Lumpur and was heading to Noumea in French New Caledonia at the conclusion of the show. According to LTCOL Luneau it had flown in excess of 24 flying hours since leaving France without requiring anything more than routine maintenance along the way.
Speaking on the second trade day at the show, Airbus Defence & Space executive vice president marketing & sales Christian Scherer said that he expected an export order for the A400M by the end of the year, the first since Malaysia signed for four aircraft in December 2005.
“Our expectation is that we will have an A400M export this year,” he said.
Scherer said that a total of 10 A400Ms had been delivered to France, Germany, Turkey and the United Kingdom to date and the first aircraft for the Royal Malaysian Air Force would be handed over at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) show in March.
Whilst on display at Avalon, both it and an RAAF C-17A Globesmaster III attracted a lot of attention from a visiting RNZAF delegation.
New Zealand Secretary of Defence Helene Quilter paid what was literally a flying visit to Avalon to inspect a French Air Force Airbus Defence A400M airlifter; the first of the type to visit Australia. Quilter subsequently described the aircraft as “fabulous”.
A study into the replacement of New Zealand’s air mobility capability is likely to be completed by the end of 2015. This will inform government on potential replacements for the RNZAF’s five Lockheed Martin C-130H tactical transports and two modified Boeing 757-200 passenger/cargo transports.
Des Ashton, deputy secretary acquisition at the NZ Ministry of Defence, declined to comment on the completion date of the study but said the planned life-of-type of the recently refurbished C-130H fleet was about 2020.
He confirmed the A400M airlifter was a potential contender, along with the Boeing C-17A Globemaster III heavy transport and the Lockheed Martin C-130J tactical airlifter. The current capability could be replaced by more than one type, he said.
Noting that C-17A production was closing down, Ashton said “we’re having a good look at cost; the C-17A may not be the answer but it’s best to check it out”.
New Zealand’s initial interest is reportedly in two strategic airlifters with the ability to safely service its Scott Base in Antarctica. But it’s not yet clear how soon they would be required, nor from where in the stretched defence budget the necessary funding would come.
This article first appeared in Australian Defence Magazine VOL.23 No.4, April 2015