TSAMTO, September 2. On September 1, Airbus Defense and Space announced the signing of a contract with the Republic of Kazakhstan for the supply of two BTA A-400M Atlas aircraft.
Kazakhstan became the ninth buyer of the A-400M and the first export customer of the aircraft since 2005.
The sale price was not disclosed. The contract also includes a full package of services for maintenance of equipment and training of personnel. The delivery of the first aircraft is scheduled for 2024. Simultaneously with the contract, the parties signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the field of maintenance and overhaul of equipment, which is also the first step towards the creation of a national C-295 maintenance center.
According to Airbus Defense and Space CEO Michael Shollhorn, " The A-400M will become the cornerstone of tactical and strategic air transportation operations in Kazakhstan." It will be used in the interests of the armed forces, civil authorities and to support humanitarian missions. As part of the Air Defense Forces of Kazakhstan, the A-400M will be used together with the previously delivered Airbus C-295, as well as An-12, An-24, An-26, An-72 and An-2 aircraft.
The new export contract increases the total number of A-400M sold to 176 units. The company's management expects that this figure will increase in the near future. At the moment, more than 100 aircraft have been delivered, the total flight time of which is about 100 thousand hours.
As reported by TSAMTO, for the first time, the Minister of Defense of Kazakhstan Adilbek Dzhaksybekov expressed interest in buying two A-400M during the official visit of Spanish Defense Minister Pedro Morenes to Kazakhstan in June 2013. In 2014, demonstration flights of one of the aircraft took place in the country.
The total order for the supply of A-400M aircraft currently amounts to 176 units. (Belgium-7, Germany-53, France-50, Spain-27, Great Britain-22, Turkey-10, Luxembourg-1, Malaysia-4, Kazakhstan-2).
