Airbus Defence and Space has delivered the first Airbus A400M aircraft to the Republic of Kazakhstan, marking a pivotal development in the country’s tactical and strategic airlift operations.
The initial aircraft, one of two A400Ms ordered by Kazakhstan, was officially handed over to the Kazakh Air Defence Forces at a ceremony in Almaty, southern Kazakhstan. This followed its ferry flight from Airbus’ A400M final assembly line in Seville, southern Spain, a few days prior.
“Proven for over a decade in military and humanitarian operations worldwide, the A400M is a game changer for the Kazakh Air Defence Forces, delivering unrivalled tactical and strategic capabilities in a single platform,” said Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space. “A second A400M, currently in production, will further strengthen these capabilities on its delivery in 2026.”
The delivered aircraft, production number MSN139, comes with a comprehensive maintenance and training support package provided by Airbus.
To date, over 130 A400Ms have been delivered to nine countries, amassing 200,000 flight hours. The aircraft has demonstrated its versatility in a range of missions, including the evacuation of civilians and military personnel from Afghanistan, Sudan, and Niger. The A400M’s unique combination of tactical and strategic capabilities allows it to transport heavy and oversized cargo to short, unprepared airstrips, fly at low altitudes, or deploy up to 116 paratroopers or 25 tonnes of cargo.
