Airbus Defence and Space has won a contract from France and the UK to provide a wide-ranging and innovative in-service support (ISS) package underpinning the entry into service of the A400M Atlas new-generation airlifter.

The contract was awarded by the UK’s procurement agency Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), and the French Direction générale de l’armement (DGA) through the OCCAR international programme management organisation.

Elements of the contract, including in particular a pooled spares agreement, have been developed together with the two countries and are expected to lead to a range of joint support activities.

Under this contract, Airbus Defence and Space is performing a wide variety of maintenance, technical, materiel and operational support functions.

Airbus Defence and Space Executive Vice President Military Aircraft, Domingo Ureña Raso, said: “We are proud to be able to implement this innovative support solution which provides a solid foundation for the A400M Atlas entry into service.

“It will enable us to deploy best commercial practice in support of an aircraft that we confidently expect will set new standards in reliability, maintainability and availability.“

The UK and France have ordered respectively 22 and 50 A400M Atlas aircraft.