On the last day of the Dubai Air Show 2021 the news doesn’t stop. Airbus Defense and Space and the Indonesian Ministry of Defense have just signed a purchase agreement for 2 A400M aircraft, in transport and in-flight refueling configuration.
The agreement, confirmed by Airbus Defense’s communication manager at the company’s DAS 2021 chalet minutes ago, comprises the sale of the 2 aircraft, plus a letter of intent for 4 additional units.
The contract, which will take effect in 2022, will bring the total number of A400M operators to ten nations. The agreement includes a full maintenance and training support package.
“This new order will further expand the A400M footprint in the Asia-Pacific region. The A400M offers outstanding capabilities to Indonesia, providing its air forces with the perfect platform to transport large and heavy payloads to remote areas and multiplying its air power projection thanks to reliable aerial refueling capabilities,” said Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space.
Capable of operating from rough and short runways, the A400M will bolster the Indonesian Air Force’s airlift capabilities to respond quickly to any crisis, as demonstrated following the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck the country in 2018. The A400M was the first large airlifter capable of delivering heavy loads such as fuel trucks and bulldozers, as well as food, clothing and medical supplies, using a damaged and short runway in Palu (Central Sulawesi, Indonesia).
“The A400M is a truly multi-role platform and will greatly enhance the Indonesian Air Force’s tactical air-to-air capabilities. This aircraft will play a key role in other key missions, such as parachute drops and heavy-lift transport. We are also looking at acquiring additional A400Ms in the near term, with future developments of the A400M, such as firefighting, an important capability we are exploring jointly with Airbus. The A400M will become a national asset and the cornerstone of humanitarian assistance and disaster response missions, beyond its tactical and air-to-air capabilities,” said Prabowo Subianto, Minister of Defense of the Republic of Indonesia.
