The Airbus A400M Atlas is a symbol of European high-tech and military collaboration. It is a highly capable platform, blending tactical flexibility with strategic reach.
The Airbus A400M Atlas has been in the news lately, as German-operated A400Ms recently refueled a V-22 Osprey belonging to the United States Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) and French-owned A400Ms conducted risky Arctic landings in Canada. The Atlas’ story is an interesting one—and one that could point the way to how greater collective European military cooperation is undertaken without the presence of the United States.
Atlas’ story begins in the early 1980s, when European nations realized they needed to replace their aging fleets of American Lockheed Martin-produced C-130 Hercules and Transall C-160 aircraft. Spearheaded by the Future International Military Airlifter (FIMA) group—later evolving into Airbus Military—the project aimed to create a next-generation transport capable of meeting a diverse mission set from NATO.
Seven nations, including Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and Germany, initially signed on to produce the plane. Interestingly, Malaysia joined the project in 2005, under the management of the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR). The program’s goal was truly ambitious: to create a single platform that could handle tactical missions like short-field landings and paratrooper drops, while also performing strategic roles, such as long-range cargo transport and even aerial refueling.
Predictably, development of the multirole aircraft was fraught with challenges.
The Atlas Goes Through Development Hell
The Atlas program struggled through delays, cost overruns, and technical hurdles—particularly with the bespoke Europrop TP400-D6 engines. These complications pushed the program billions of euros over budget—and years behind schedule. By 2009, Airbus even threatened to cancel the project unless partner nations provided additional funding, eventually leading to a 1.5 billion euro loan.
Atlas’ first prototype was dubbed the “Grizzly,” and it took flight on December 11, 2009, from Seville, Spain. After extensive testing—over 5,000 flight hours across five different prototypes—the A400M received European Safety Agency (EASA) certification in March 2013. The first delivery to the French Air Force followed in August of that year, marking the start of its operational life.
The A400M’s Design
The A400M Atlas is a masterclass in design. It balances performance, versatility, and innovation. Its flying-wing-like shape and composite-heavy construction enhances lift and fuel efficiency.
As mentioned above, the Atlas is powered by four TP400 turboprops that each deliver 11,600 shaft horsepower. The aircraft achieves a cruising speed of Mach 0.72 and a maximum range of 4,800 nautical miles. Indeed, its payload capacity places it between the C-130 and the gigantic Boeing C-17 Globemaster III.
However, unlike those other planes, the Atlas has unique tactical agility. The plane has a 12-wheel landing gear and low-pressure tires to allow operations on unprepared runways as short as 2,500 feet, including grass, sand, or gravel surfaces. It can carry oversized cargo—such as helicopters, armored vehicles, or even 40-foot ISO containers. If needed, the Atlas can carry 116 paratroopers, too—who can jump simultaneously from both side doors.
Atlas’ fly-by-wire system, advanced glass cockpit (derived from the Airbus A380 civilian airliner), and automatic low-level flight capability—down to 150 feet in instrument conditions—further enhance this plane’s tactical prowess.
Moreover, in accordance with the plane’s original mission, it doubles as a tanker with a 50.8-tonne fuel capacity, refueling fighters and helicopters via two underwing pods or a center hose. Its firefighting potential, tested in 2024 with a roll-on/roll-off kit, adds yet another unique capability. The counter-rotating propellers and complex gearboxes have posed maintenance challenges, reflecting the inherent tradeoffs of its ambitious European engineering.
The Atlas Is a Rare European Success Story
As of 2025, 130 of 178 ordered A400M Atlas planes have been delivered. The plane has logged over 200,000 flight hours across ten nations. It first saw action in 2013, when French forces battled Islamist insurgents in Mali, and it has since played pivotal roles in conflicts (Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria), humanitarian missions (earthquake relief in Turkey in 2023), and evacuations (Kabul, 2021 and Sudan, 2023). The Royal Air Force’s historic 22-hour flight from the United Kingdom to Guam in 2023, with three mid-air refuelings, showcased its strategic reach.
Despite its excellent record and high praise from pilots, however, there are drawbacks to this plane. High maintenance costs—exacerbated by its bespoke engines—have drawn immense scrutiny. Germany, a major operator, has voiced frustration over paratrooper drop limitations.
Still, its operational success has quieted many doubters, and export orders from Kazakhstan and Indonesia signal growing international trust and desire to purchase these planes over others.
Clearly, the Airbus A400M Atlas is a symbol of European high-tech and military collaboration. It is a highly capable platform, blending tactical flexibility with strategic reach.
The ability of this plane to deliver troops, cargo, and aid to the point of need, whether on a war-torn runway or a disaster-stricken coast, underscores its value. The A400M may well be the best heavy-lift transport in the world. Europe should take the hard lessons learned from this program and apply them to every defense project they are currently gearing up to build in the sudden absence of the Americans.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter@WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / VanderWolf Images.