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World
Defense and Security Industry News - Airbus Defence and Space |
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| Airbus A400M airlifter passes key airdrop test | |||
The
Airbus A400M new generation airlifter has successfully demonstrated its
ability to airdrop multiple containers of the kind typically used in military
and humanitarian operations. In tests conducted at Cazaux, France, the
aircraft dropped 24 x 1 tonne Container Delivery Systems (CDS) in a single
pass. |
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The
48 x 48 inch containers are loaded in two rows inside the cargo hold and
released by gravity. This test demonstrates the maximum capacity of the
A400M
for this type of container and is a key contractual requirement for the
A400M. The A400M is a larger, more modern, more flexible transport aircraft specifically designed to meet today’s requirements and indeed those of the future. The A400M can travel further and faster than most current in-service airlifters and can carry larger payloads. It is a multi-role transport, economical to operate, and exploits the benefits of state-of-the-art technology. The A400M will be capable of carrying a load of 32 tonnes over a range of 2300nmls at speeds comparable with pure-jet military transports; furthermore, the range of the aircraft can be extended by the use of a removable, air refuelling probe mounted above the cockpit. The aircraft will be capable of operating either at low-level (down to 150ft agl) or at high-level altitudes to 11,300m, and it will be able to deploy troops and/or equipment between and within theatres of operation either by parachute (up to 108 paratroopers), or by landing on short, unprepared or semi-prepared strips. |
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Airbus A400M airlifter passes key airdrop test
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