In a fighter-dominated military exercise, a French A400M demonstrates its versatility in Pitch Black, performing tactical flights a few feet off the ground.
Take-off!’, announces commander Dorian, pilot of the French Air and Space Force’s A400M aircraft. A few seconds later, the 8,250kW of power from each of its four engines propel it into the Australian sky.
It’s nine o’clock on a hot winter Tuesday morning at Darwin Air Base in northern Australia, and the French A400M is about to make a tactical flight as part of Pitch Black 2024. The exercise offers perfect conditions: 20 allied countries are participating in joint missions and the terrain is ideal for tactical training. There are very few obstacles and the desert areas are sparsely populated.
Crossing the enemy lines
Today, the A400M is taking part in a strike mission in enemy territory. “As part of the allied coalition, the aircraft will penetrate enemy lines and airdrop material by gravity,” commander Dorian explains. “We are checking that our release methods, our communication methods and a whole range of tactical tools are compatible with the methods used by our partners, but also by fighters, helicopters or tankers.”
After reaching cruising speed and altitude, we make our way towards enemy territory. The first hour in the A400M goes by smoothly. As if it were a commercial flight, we hardly feel any turbulence or turns.
As fast as 300 knots, as low as 300 feet
The A400M begins to descend quickly. Its agility allows it to perform low-level flying as if it were a fighter aircraft. This helps to avoid enemy attacks in hostile territory.
“We fly very, very low; we fly very, very fast to get away from any potential threats that might detect us or even try to harm us,” says commander Dorian.
300 knots (555 km/h) and at an altitude of just 300 feet (90 metres) – this is the exact opposite of the calm first hour of the flight. The left and right turns are repeated. The plane demonstrates its great agility and power in an operation that the commander describes as “risky”.
Meanwhile, in the cargo hold of the A400M, the military personnel rock back and forth in unison with the changes in altitude and speed. The more experienced military personnel stare into infinity as if it were a normal day at the office. The less experienced surfers remain silent.
