The A400M dropped up to 20 tons of water in less than ten seconds during a test. By comparison, a Canadair can drop six tons of water.
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Airbus has just carried out tests on a kit that can transform an A400M into a water bomber in a few minutes. This flight test campaign has been carried out in recent weeks in Spain, specifies the manufacturer in a press release published Monday, July 25.
The A400M, a tactical military transport aircraft, is equipped with a prototype detachable firefighting kit. In a test carried out on Thursday, it dropped up to twenty tons of water in less than ten seconds, at low altitude (45 meters / 150 feet) and low speed (230 km/h / 125 knots), which allows great precision in the release. Another advantage of the A400M is that it can land on short, loose terrain, even on a beach. There it can be filled in five to ten minutes. By comparison, a Canadair can drop six tons of water.
“The A400M can play a leading role in combating the growing threat posed by wildfires, as well as in preserving environmental ecosystems.”
The kit tested by Airbus does not require any modifications to the aircraft. This makes it fully compatible with any device in the fleet. The plane is thus quickly transformed into a water bomber and can intervene as quickly as possible. If in this phase of tests, the Airbus can carry 20 tons of water, the capacity could, potentially, go further, underlines Airbus.
The tests have so far been carried out during the day. But Airbus plans to analyze this type of mission in night conditions, in order to strengthen the capacity and efficiency of the aircraft in this configuration.
For the moment, France has nineteen A400Ms. Nearly fifty in total have been ordered. This solution would allow France “to easily and inexpensively increase its fleet of water bombers”adds Airbus.