Airbus Defence and Space has signed a contract with OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation), acting on behalf of the French Directorate General of Armaments (DGA), to develop new capabilities for the A400M military transport aircraft.
The upgrades, known as the Parallel Mission System (PMS), will equip French Air and Space Force A400Ms with enhanced multi-mission capabilities for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations.
“The A400M is a true Swiss Army knife for the armed forces that operate it. It has the capabilities and potential to continue broadening the scope of its missions,” said Jean-Brice Dumont, Executive Vice President Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space. “With this development, the French Air and Space Force will gain an aircraft capable of serving as a tactical airborne command and control tool.”
The PMS programme centres on integrating a new onboard mission system, alongside tactical situational awareness consoles installed in the cargo hold. These systems will allow crews to monitor multiple sensors and coordinate missions more effectively. The programme also includes the integration of an optronic sensor.
The new mission system is designed to support additional sensors and communications equipment, while also enabling the management of drones and missiles launched from the aircraft’s cargo hold. Ultimately, crews will be able to coordinate collaborative combat missions involving ground forces, helicopters such as the Tiger and Caracal H225M, and fighter aircraft.
Following the development phase, the first French A400M equipped with the new system is scheduled for installation in 2027, with flight testing planned for 2028. Several aircraft within the French Air and Space Force fleet will then be retrofitted to accommodate the PMS kit.
Airbus Defence and Space is also studying further enhancements for the A400M, including long-range electronic jamming, a mothership capability for deploying drones and missiles in flight, an increase in payload capacity to 40 tonnes, and aerial firefighting capabilities.
These developments are expected to further broaden the A400M’s operational role and ensure it continues to meet the evolving requirements of armed forces worldwide.
