Aircraft
French Enlist UK Airlift Support While Awaiting A400M
The first production A400M (MSN7) is seen outside the factory recently, in French Air Force colors. (Photo: Airbus Military)
The first production A400M (MSN7) is seen outside the factory recently, in French Air Force colors. (Photo: Airbus Military)

Airbus Military still expects to deliver the first production A400M to the French Air Force in the second quarter. The milestone slipped by three months following a gearbox fault last summer, which interrupted function and reliability (F&R) flight-testing. To support its recent military intervention in Mali, France turned to the UK Royal Air Force C-17 fleet, which flew troops and equipment from Villacoublay to Bamako.