The United Kingdom Ministry of Defense (MOD) has taken delivery of its third A400M Atlas transport aircraft, the U.K. Royal Air Force said on Tuesday.
The A400M, designated ZM403, was flown into its home base at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire from the assembly plant in Seville, Spain on July 5.
This is the third of 22 Atlas aircraft the U.K. procured as part of a $4.2 billion program, on track to meet the U.K.’s future air mobility requirements.
This was the first Atlas delivery to the U.K. since one of the aircraft crashed in Spain, killing four of the six crew members (Defense Daily, May 11).
Before the crash led to a pause in Atlas flights in May-June, the first two delivered A400Ms completed over 405 flying hours, the MoD said.
“Having now undertaken and completed thorough checks on the UK’s A400M aircraft, I am satisfied that we have fulfilled and allowed for the safe delivery of this third aircraft,” Sir Bernard Gray, U.K. MoD Chief of Defence Materiel, said in a statement.
“This world-class aircraft will have an important role to fulfill with the Royal Air Force and the program is at the forefront of modern technology and the RAF is looking forward to receiving its full order in due course,” Gray added.
The RAF is developing the use of the A400s while growing the experience of the aircrew instructors. Later, the RAF will begin to train crews for the A400M Atlas Squadron.
The A400Ms are set to replace the C-130 Hercules when it retires from service in 2022.
The A400M is produced by the Airbus Group. The military transport aircraft was launched in 2003 for the combined needs of Belgium, France, Germany, Luxemburg, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.