The first A400M aircraft was recently rolled out of the final assembly hall in Seville, Spain. Several parts of the aircraft have connections with Saab.
The A400M is a pan-European military transport aircraft. The project started as a collaboration project between six European countries – all in need of a new transport aircraft.
The crew entrance door is manufactured by Saab Aerostructures and the top shells are manufactured by Denel Saab Aerostructures in South Africa. Both of these units are collaborating in the manufacture of the wing fuselage fairings. Denel Saab Aerostructures is responsible for the development of the fairings, while Saab industrialises the work package and manufactures the first fairings in Linköping, Sweden.
“We have manufactured the fairings for the first few aircraft in Linköping. Most of them will be delivered directly to final assembly in Seville, but some will be delivered to Denel Saab Aerostructures where they will be assembled with the sub-structure. The plan is that manufacture of the fairings will gradually be transferred to South Africa,” says Peter Oscarsson, business manager for A400M.
The avionics equipment, which will control and monitor the wing flaps on the aircraft, is supplied by Saab Avitronics.
There are currently 192 orders for the A400M and the maiden flight is scheduled to take place during the autumn.
Back to CNB 3/2008