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France Airbus Defence and Space
A400M Atlas
A four-engine turboprop tactical and strategic airlifter developed multinationally to replace the C-130 Hercules and Transall C-160 in European air forces, with a jet-like cruise speed and an oversized cargo hold able to fit helicopters and armored vehicles. France operates the type as the backbone of its strategic and tactical airlift fleet.
In service since 2013 · 9 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
3,700
km range
11,278
m ceiling
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
French export-licensed
CIEEMG inter-ministerial approval; broadly export-oriented.
Channel: DGA / direct commercial
Fielded & proven
Established · 9 operators
In service since 2013. Status: active.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from.
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data — export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
- Max speed (Mach)
Maximum speed as a multiple of the speed of sound. Mach 2+ is typical for air-superiority fighters.
- 0.72 Mach
- Range
Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence.
- 3,700 km Stronger than 17% of transport aircraft
- Service ceiling
Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon.
- 11,278 m Stronger than 37% of transport aircraft
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
- Length
Overall length including gun/probe where applicable.
- 45.1 m
- Wingspan
Wingtip-to-wingtip span.
- 42.4 m
- Height
Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles.
- 14.7 m
- Crew
Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity.
- 3
- Cargo payload
Maximum cargo the transport can carry. Higher means more lift per sortie.
- 37,000 kg Stronger than 54% of transport aircraft
- Troop capacity
Number of embarked troops/passengers (IFV, APC, transport). Higher carries more.
- 116 Stronger than 75% of transport aircraft
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
- Engine
Powerplant model and type.
- 4x Europrop TP400-D6 turboprop
- Engines
Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost.
- 4
- Propulsion type
Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet…
- Turboprop
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
- Operator countries
Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.
- 9 Stronger than 77% of transport aircraft
Specifications compiled from public Airbus Defence and Space and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations — treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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Airbus Defence and Space C-295 Frequently asked questions
What is the range of the Airbus Defence and Space A400M Atlas? +
The Airbus Defence and Space A400M Atlas has a maximum range of 3,700 km.
How many crew does the Airbus Defence and Space A400M Atlas require? +
The Airbus Defence and Space A400M Atlas requires a crew of 3.
What engine does the Airbus Defence and Space A400M Atlas use? +
The Airbus Defence and Space A400M Atlas is powered by the 4x Europrop TP400-D6 turboprop.
What is the Airbus Defence and Space A400M Atlas used for? +
The Airbus Defence and Space A400M Atlas is a transport & tanker typically used for isr.
How many countries operate the Airbus Defence and Space A400M Atlas? +
The Airbus Defence and Space A400M Atlas is operated by 9 countries.
How much does the Airbus Defence and Space A400M Atlas cost? +
Airbus Defence and Space A400M Atlas: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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