The Airbus A400M military transport aircraft will be “deployed (...) by the end of July” in order to “support all other resources” involved in the firefighting which affect several regions in France, government spokesperson Maud Bregeon announced on Thursday.
Capable of carrying up to 20 tonnes of water or fire-retardant, the aircraft would have a drop capacity equivalent to that of three Canadairs. Its use will, however, remain subject to certain constraints, particularly due to its size and limited manoeuvrability in rugged terrain.
“The A400M is still ‘being fitted out, and the crews are still undergoing training’,” Maud Bregeon explained. However, “within a few days, it will be operational”. “The resources – at least the technical ones – have been put in place; there is, of course, a whole phase of testing and checks to ensure the safety of the aircraft and those involved,” she continued.
In service with the armed forces since 2013, the Airbus A400M is usually used for strategic and tactical transport missions. As part of the fight against forest fires, it can be fitted with “a high-capacity water-drop kit, with a capacity of 20 tonnes, which is the equivalent of three Canadair aircraft”, emphasised the head of Civil Protection.
Following a series of trials, an agreement between the Government and Airbus was signed a few days ago. The scheme will be rolled out on a trial basis. It should be noted, however, that the A400M was not originally designed as a fire-fighting aircraft, but as a military aircraft that can be adapted, when the situation requires it, to operate as a water-bombing aircraft.
Its imminent arrival will therefore provide further support for forest fire-fighting operations. However, the A400M should not be presented as a miracle solution, particularly given its operational and manoeuvring constraints.