Test and acceptance activities of the 9th aircraft produced within the scope of A400M Project carried out by the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) in order to increase the tactical transportation and logistics capabilities of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) were completed in Seville, Spain where production took place. According to the statement made by President of Defence Industries Prof. İsmail DEMİR from his social media account, it was stated that the 9th A400M brought to Turkey by Turkish pilots would be deployed at the 12th Air Transportation Base Command in Kayseri.

The 9th aircraft produced at Airbus facilities has the most advanced configuration delivered so far. The 10th aircraft that will contribute to the defence of the country by gaining more strength to the power of the Turkish Air Forces is expected to be delivered in 2022. Turkey is one of the six participating countries in the project with Germany, Belgium, France, England and Spain. The first A400M aircraft was delivered to Turkey in 2013 and the delivery of the last aircraft is scheduled to be made at the beginning of 2022.

Within the scope of A400 program, Turkish domestic industry takes responsibility for the design and production of the aircraft, together with the participating countries. Design and production of the main structural components of the A400M aircraft such as the Front Middle Body, Rear Body Upper Section, Parachutist Doors, Emergency Exit Door, Rear Upper Escape Door and Tail Cone, as well as the most important flight control surfaces such as Aileron and Speed Brakes (Spoiler) is being carried out by Turkish Aerospace engineers and technicians.

In addition, TEI is also amongst EPI’s subcontractors in the production of the A400M aircraft’s TP400 engine, which is an indigenous turboprop engine designed by Euro Prop International (EPI) consortium (Rolls-Royce, MTU, Snecma and ITP), which is the sub-contractor of AMSL company. Within the scope of the project, the retrofit activities to enable the aircraft to reach their final configurations will be performed at the Kayseri 2nd Air Maintenance Plant Directorate as of 2020. Compared to A400M users in other countries, Turkey owns A400M aircraft which have the highest value in terms combat readiness rate, and this fact is cited as a success on multiple platforms in which participating countries are taking part.