Airbus Defence and Space has delivered the first A400M aircraft to Kazakhstan, making it the ninth country to field the tactical airlift.
The aircraft, the first of two ordered, was ferried from Airbus’ final assembly line in Seville, Spain, and handed over to the Kazkhastani government in Almaty. Airbus will also provide comprehensive maintenance and training support to the A400M unit, also called MSN 139.
Jean-Brice Dumont, head of Airbus’s air power division, highlighted the A400M’s capabilities. “The A400M is a game changer for the Kazakh Air Defense Forces, delivering unrivaled tactical and strategic capabilities in a single platform,” the executive said.
Equipped with four turboprop engines, the A400M can reach a maximum altitude of 40,000 feet and carry up to 37 tonnes of payload, including heavy armored vehicles, helicopters, or specialized engineering equipment. It can travel twice as far as medium airlifts and land on short, unpaved tactical airstrips.
The latest delivery of the A400M builds on Airbus’ decade-long partnership with Kazakhstan. Since 2010, the French manufacturer has delivered 60 helicopters, including the H125, H130 and H145, which support the Central Asian nation’s rescue, law enforcement and surveillance operations.
Airbus said the second A400M is currently in production and is expected to be delivered in 2026.