Airbus has just had its contract for maintaining the Luftwaffe’s A400M transport aircraft in operational conditions renewed and extended.
MRO of the Airbus A400M: the contract is extended for seven and a half years
Airbus has just had the MCO (maintenance in operational conditions) contract for the Luftwaffe’s A400M fleet renewed by the BAAINBw (Federal Office for Bundeswehr Equipment). The duration is seven and a half years and it is an extension of the first contract in force since December 2014. “This contract extension demonstrates the German government’s long-term commitment to the A400M”, commented Jean-Brice Dumont, director for military air systems at Airbus Defense and Space.
Three supporting workshops
Industrial technical support for the Luftwaffe’s Airbus A400M fleet is provided by the industrial center based at Wunstorf air base and the Getafe skills center in Spain. MRO work will also be carried out at Wunstorf as well as at Hanover airport and the Airbus workshop in Manching, near Munich.
Opening of a dedicated maintenance center in 2027
The extension of the contract is accompanied by the establishment of a dedicated A400M maintenance center in the direct vicinity of the Wunstorf air base. The site, which will also house the current support centre, will be operational in 2027. Construction work should begin shortly. Ultimately, the whole will mobilize 300 employees. The Luftwaffe currently has 40 Airbus A400M in the fleet and has yet to receive 13 copies.
