An A400M being assembled.
ABU DHABI—Airbus is in discussions with companies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) over a workshare on the A400M to secure its first Middle East order for the military airlifter.
UAE companies are being offered roles in what Airbus calls the primary production system of the aircraft, said Gerd Weber, head of the A400M program. That includes making the aircraft’s structural components.
Airbus recently hosted a group of UAE companies in Europe to show them around the A400M facilities and discuss a potential workshare if the Abu Dhabi government green lights a purchase of the transport aircraft, Weber said. “We are ready to go.”
Airbus already has local ties through its commercial aircraft programs. The UAE’s Strata, for instance, makes parts for the A350 widebody. “We can build on that relationship,” said Gabriel Semelas, Airbus president for Africa and the Middle East.
Airbus is under pressure to secure additional A400M deals. It has delivered 131 of 178 aircraft ordered since the program’s inception and faces a potential line shutdown around the end of the decade absent top-up orders from existing customers or new contracts. All existing customers, except for Indonesia, have taken delivery of all or some of their aircraft. Jakarta’s first plane is due by year’s end.
The Middle East market for A400Ms is around 30-40 aircraft, Airbus projects, with an initial UAE deal likely involving the acquisition of eight to 10 aircraft.
Weber signaled that talks should make meaningful progress this year.
Airbus has been trying to make the argument that the UAE could adopt a French Air Force-like equipment model. The UAE already is a buyer of the Dassault Rafale and the A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport, and adding the A400M would round out the package, Weber said.
Saudi Arabia is also on Airbus’ prospect list, though a UAE deal seems more advanced.
Weber said there is enough workshare to satisfy both countries’ desires to expand their local aerospace and defense production. In addition to making parts, partners could be involved in training and support, Weber said. Saudi Arabia’s state-owned SAMI Aerospace, for instance, works with Airbus on C295 airlifter support.
The talks are unfolding as Airbus continues efforts to bring the aircraft to its final configuration under the initial contract with customers. The so-called SOC 3 standard—for standard operating capability—should be completed by the end of next year. Weber said authorities recently signed off on SOC 2.9, leaving only some fine-tuning to be done to the system to complete the work.
Airbus also is working on future system enhancements. One project underway is adding an “airdrop redo” function so that crew, with the touch of a button, can precisely deliver cargo into a drop zone. The function is supposed to make it easier to contain a drop zone to a small area, assuring vital supplies make it to their intended location and limiting the size of an area on the ground that needs protecting.
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