Airbus Military A400M makes first visit to Malaysia »

By Leandro Maldonado
16 April 2012

Thumbs up! Airbus Military Chief Test Pilot, Ed Strongman, and General Tan Sri Dato Sri Rodzali bin Daud, chief of the RMAF, pose along with Airbus Military Senior Vice President for Commercial, Strategy and Industrial Relations (Asia), Ignacio Alonso, during the A400M's first visit to Malaysia. © AMC

Subang AB, Malaysia, 16 April 2012 — The Airbus Military A400M new generation airlifter recently arrived in Malaysia at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Subang Airbase as part of its Asia tour, where a welcome ceremony took place today in the presence of the Chief of the Royal Malaysian Air Force, General Tan Sri Dato Sri Rodzali bin Daud. The visit, the first time that the A400M will be seen in Asia, gave the Malaysian Government and Air Force a chance to see the A400M at first hand. The Malaysian Government has ordered four of the new aircraft which has as its launch customer nations Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

Airbus Military Senior Vice President for Commercial, Strategy and Industrial Relations, Asia, Ignacio Alonso said at the occasion of the welcoming ceremony: “It is with immense pleasure and pride that we bring the A400M to our highly valued customer, the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Malaysian Government. During the visit of the A400M here in Malaysia we will show the exceptional capabilities of the aircraft to the Chief of the Air Force and the Minister of Defense as well as other Air Force staff and invited guests. The A400M will perfectly respond to the national and international needs of the Royal Malaysian Air Force as well as allow the most effective participation in humanitarian missions. We look forward to a long and fruitful cooperation with Malaysia.” 

Airbus Military Chief Test Pilot, Ed Strongman, added: "I have had the pleasure of showing the Chief of the RMAF the A400M simulator in France last year and now I look forward to showing him, and his RMAF personnel, the real aircraft flying here in Malaysia. We have done a lot of work since his last visit to Toulouse and have now completed all the flight test work for the issue of the initial Type Certificate. This year we are expanding the aircraft's capabilities to achieve its full potential - short field and unpaved runway operations, air drop of equipment, and Air to Air Refuelling are just a few examples of our present flight test activities. We look forward to seeing our magnificent A400M in service with the Royal Malaysian Air Force".

The first production A400M, MSN 007, is about to be delivered to the French Air Force later this year. Thanks to its most advanced technologies, the A400M is able to fly higher, faster and further, while retaining high manoeuvrability, low speed, and short, soft and rough airfield capabilities. The big European airlifter combines both tactical and strategic/logistic missions, while being also able to be used as a tanker plane (an option only retained by France and the UK so far). With its cargo hold specifically designed to carry the outsize equipment needed today for both military and humanitarian disaster relief missions, it can bring this material quickly and directly to where it is most needed. Conceived to be highly reliable, dependable, and with a great survivability, the new multipurpose A400M is said to be able to do the job of three of today’s different aircraft models in a single one. This means smaller fleets and less investment from the operator. 

Source: Airbus Military

back to news »