The UK Ministry of Defence has extended a £190 million agreement with Airbus to maintain and support the Royal Air Force’s A400M Atlas transport fleet, with the new
arrangement expected to significantly increase the number of aircraft available for operations.
Under the 31-month extension, Airbus will continue providing maintenance, repair and technical support for the RAF’s A400M fleet from its UK Support Centre at RAF Brize Norton. The agreement runs until April 2029 and is designed to raise daily fleet availability by around 30%.
The number of A400M aircraft fully ready for missions is expected to increase from about 10 to 13 by the end of 2027. The improvement is intended to strengthen the RAF’s ability to respond to military operations, support NATO commitments and conduct humanitarian and emergency missions.
The A400M Atlas is one of the RAF’s principal airlift platforms, capable of transporting troops, vehicles and equipment over long distances while also supporting humanitarian relief and disaster-response operations. Its role has become increasingly important as Britain seeks to maintain the ability to rapidly move forces and supplies across Europe and beyond.
The contract extension will also support more than 350 jobs in the UK. This includes around 240 Airbus employees and approximately 110 personnel working for key subcontractors, mainly around RAF Brize Norton and Carterton.
Luke Pollard, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, said the agreement demonstrated the government's support for British engineering and the workforce responsible for maintaining the RAF's air mobility capabilities.
He said the additional aircraft availability would improve the UK's capacity to conduct operations overseas and meet NATO commitments while providing value for taxpayers.
The Ministry of Defence said the agreement forms part of its wider effort to improve the readiness of Britain's armed forces while strengthening the domestic defence-industrial base.
Air Commodore Si Young, Head of Air Mobility in National Armaments Materiel, said the extension would build on improvements already achieved in A400M availability and ensure the RAF has the aircraft required for current and future operations.
Airbus Defence and Space UK Managing Director Kata Escott said the company remained committed to working alongside the RAF to improve fleet readiness and keep the A400M force available for operational tasking.
The A400M programme represents a major element of Britain's military transport capability. The aircraft can carry heavy equipment and personnel while operating from relatively short or unprepared runways, giving the RAF greater flexibility in moving forces and delivering supplies.
The new agreement is also linked to the government's broader Defence Investment Plan, which provides for £298 billion of defence spending over the next four years. Ministers say the investment will support long-term procurement, industrial capacity and skilled employment across the UK defence sector. Photo by MoD/Crown copyright (2014), Wikimedia commons.
