The defense and space division of Airbus has signed a contract with OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation), acting on behalf of the Directorate General of Armament (DGA) of France, in order to develop new capabilities for the A400M military transport aircraft.
These improvements, called "Parallel Mission System" (PMS), aim to equip French A400M aircraft with multi-mission capabilities in the fields of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), as explained by the company in a statement released this Tuesday.
The executive vice president of air power at Airbus Defence and Space, Jean-Brice Dumont, has stressed that this aircraft "is a true Swiss Army knife for the armed forces that use it."
"It has the capabilities and potential to continue expanding the scope of its missions," he said, emphasizing that, with this program, "the French Air and Space Force acquires an aircraft capable of becoming a tactical airborne command and control (C2) tool."
Integration of a new mission system on board
The PMS updates focus on incorporating a new onboard mission system and installing tactical situational awareness consoles in the cargo hold, from which various sensors can be monitored and operations coordinated. Likewise, the integration of an optronic sensor on the aircraft is planned.
This mission system is designed to accommodate additional sensors and communication links, as well as to manage drones and missiles launched from the aircraft's cargo hold. In this way, the crew will be able to coordinate joint missions with ground units, helicopters—particularly the Tiger and Caracal H225M—and fighter aircraft in a collaborative combat environment.
After a development phase, the new equipment will be fitted to the first French A400M in 2027 and will undergo flight testing throughout 2028. Subsequently, several aircraft from the French Air and Space Force fleet will be modified to incorporate a "PMS kit."
In parallel, Airbus Defence and Space is already analyzing the incorporation of other capabilities to the A400M, such as long-range signal jamming, the role of a mothership for the in-flight launch of drones and missiles, an increase in payload up to 40 tons, and, finally, firefighting solutions.
"All these advances will further expand the capabilities and missions of the A400M, which are essential to meet the current and future global needs of the armed forces," the firm concluded.