TSAMTO, September 29. Ahead of schedule, Airbus Defense and Space handed over the third (out of seven ordered) BTA A-400M Atlas aircraft to the Belgian Air Force Command on September 23.
The aircraft with the tail number CT-04 arrived at the Melsbrek Air Force Base (the military zone of Brussels airport), where the 15th Air Transport Wing of the Belgian Air Force is located. Thus, the total number of A-400M aircraft as part of a joint unit with the Luxembourg Armed Forces has reached four. In total, Luxembourg and Belgium ordered 8 aircraft: seven for the Belgian Armed Forces and one for the Luxembourg Armed Forces. The four remaining A-400M should be delivered by the end of 2023. It is assumed that two more aircraft will be received by the end of this year: CT-05 in October and CT-06 in December.
As planned, the A-400M will be provided to the European Air Transport Command (European Air Transport Command), and through it to the European Rapid Reaction Forces. After the CT-04 was delivered, the total number of aircraft transferred by Airbus to customers reached 101 units.
As reported by CAMTO, Belgium, among the seven countries that are members of the organization for cooperation in the field of arms procurement (OCCAR – Organization conjointe de cooperation en matiere d'armement), in December 2001 signed an agreement for the development and supply of 7 A-400M aircraft. They are intended to replace the C-130H Hercules in service since the early 1970s, which are scheduled to be decommissioned by the end of 2021. The project for the purchase and subsequent operation of the A400M by the Belgian Armed Forces is carried out jointly with the Luxembourg Armed Forces, which have purchased one aircraft and will provide three crews.
As planned, all A-400M will be delivered to the Belgian and Luxembourg Air Forces in the period 2020-2023. They will be part of the 20th Squadron of the 15th Transport Wing of the Belgian Air Force, stationed at Melsbrek Air Base. The full readiness of the unit for combat use is scheduled for the end of 2024.
