Duncan Looi
KAZAKHSTAN has received its second A400M airlifter from Airbus Defence and Space, completing a two-aircraft order placed in 2021. The aircraft was previously showcased by the company in October with the complete Kazakh Air Defense Forces livery and conducted its first flight in August.
The A400M flew from Airbus’ A400M final assembly line in Seville, Spain to the Central Asian nation’s capital of Almaty. Kazakhstan became the ninth operator of the aircraft after the first aircraft was delivered in December 2024. Airbus will also provide a full range of maintenance and training support to the Kazakh Air and Defense Forces.
Kazakhstan’s defence ministry said the aircraft will be used for military tasks as well as for disaster response, evacuating civilians and delivering humanitarian aid, adding that the duo of aircraft will let Kazakhstan fly its own troops to international peacekeeping missions alongside the smaller C295s also from Airbus as well as Chinese-made Y-8s.
The A400M has been delivered to 10 countries, including Indonesia which received its second of two A400Ms in March. Logging more than 200,000 flight hours and capable of carrying out various missions including humanitarian assistance, it can operate on short, unpaved runways and also serves as a multi-role aerial refuelling platform, acting as a force multiplier.–-shp/adj/dl (Pix:AIRBUS)
