ADEX 2015: Airbus touts A400M to South Korea

[Zarvan]

Airbus is keen to sign up its first export customer for the A400M since Malaysia joined the programme in 2005. A UK Royal Air Force aircraft is seen here at ADEX 2015. Source: IHS/Gareth Jennings
Airbus Defence and Space (DS) is touting its Atlas airlifter at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition (ADEX) 2015, as it looks to secure the Republic of Korea Air Force's (RoKAF's) outstanding strategic airlift requirement.

According to organisers, an A400M from the UK Royal Air Force will attend the event at Seoul Airport, which runs from 20 to 25 October.

The RoKAF has a requirement for strategic airlift capability, with interest having previously been expressed in obtaining a small number of Boeing C-17 Globemaster IIIs. However, with production of that platform now all but ended and the final few airframes having been accounted for, Airbus DS will harbour high hopes for its A400M as the only Western heavy airlifter on offer.

Billed as a competitor to the Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules, the A400M can carry larger payloads over strategic distances, while being able to deliver them in a tactical fashion, such as onto austere landing strips. Figures released by Airbus DS show that with a 20-tonne payload, the A400M can fly an unrefuelled 3,400 nautical miles at 37,000 feet and at near-airliner speeds of Mach 0.72.

The only export success to date for the A400M is in Malaysia, which ordered four of the type in 2005. Airbus DS is keen to build on the current 174-aircraft order book and one-third market share with additional customers, and the Asia-Pacific region is a ripe territory for potential sales with near-term medium/heavy-lift transport requirements in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, India, Japan, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, and Thailand.

In terms of securing a first export customer since Malaysia in 2005, the A400M's chief competition will come from the C-130J, the Embraer KC-390, and the Antonov An-70.

Should the RoKAF choose to adopt the A400M, the European heavy-hauler would join the eight Lockheed Martin C-130H Hercules platforms that have been in service since 1989 (currently being upgraded by Elbit Systems); four C-130J-30 Hercules that have been in service since 2014 (with more expected to be ordered); 12 Airbus DS CN235s from 1993; and eight CN235Ms from 2001.

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ADEX 2015: Airbus touts A400M to South Korea - IHS Jane's 360