Airbus has successfully tested a removable firefighting demonstrator kit on the A400M new-generation airlifter during a flight test campaign in Spain.
The test campaign took place in daylight conditions with a minimum operating height of 150 ft, flight speeds as low as 125 knots and drops involving up to 20 tonnes of water from the current tank in less than ten seconds. The main objective of the campaign is to validate the drop water quantity and time as well as the ability of the A400M to carry out this new role with the kit.
The development of this prototype and the tests have been carried out in close collaboration with the 43rd Group of the Spanish Air Force, as well as European authorities in firefighting operations and the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITECO).
“The development of this firefighting kit is an intrinsic part of our journey towards helping to create a more sustainable and safer world, not only by our actions but also through our products. We strongly believe the A400M can play a vital role in the fight against the ever increasing threat posed by wildfires and support the restoration of social and environmental systems,” said Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space.
