During the 2025 Paris Air Show, the Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace (French air and space force) demonstrated the Airbus A400M Atlas airlifter in flight.
The Airbus A400M Atlas is a multi-role military transport aircraft designed to fulfill both strategic and tactical airlift requirements for modern armed forces. First flown in December 2009 and entering service in August 2013 with the French Air Force, it bridges the gap between smaller tactical airlifters like the C-130 Hercules and larger strategic transports such as the C-17 Globemaster III.
Powered by four Europrop TP400-D6 turboprop engines, each generating 11,000 horsepower, the A400M boasts impressive performance. It can carry a maximum payload of 37 tonnes, including heavy vehicles, helicopters, or humanitarian aid, over distances exceeding 3,300 kilometers with a full load. Its unique design allows it to operate from short (as little as 750m), unprepared, or semi-prepared airstrips, enabling direct delivery of supplies to austere environments.
Beyond its primary transport role, the A400M is highly versatile. It can be rapidly reconfigured for aerial refueling, acting as a tanker for fighter jets and helicopters. It also serves as a potent platform for aerial delivery of troops (up to 116 paratroopers) and cargo, and can be converted for medical evacuation missions. Future developments aim to enhance its capabilities further, including roles as a drone carrier, electronic warfare platform, and even a firefighting aircraft. Its robust self-protection systems, including radar warning receivers and ongoing integration of Directed Infrared Counter Measures (DIRCM), ensure high survivability in contested airspace.