Following the delivery of three C-295 MPA twin-turbo jet airplanes to the Philippine Air Force to boost the country’s maritime patrol capability, Airbus is now offering one of the latest heavy airlifter that could take off and land on shorelines.
The A400M, a four-engine plane, is a “21st-century airlifter,” according to Johan Pelissier, head of Airbus Defense and Space for South East Asia. He said the A400M “is capable of carrying 37 tons of cargo, ideal for delivering troops, tanks, helicopters and even heavy excavators.”
Airbus is currently participating in the ongoing 3rd Asian Defense, Security and Crisis Management Exhibition and Conference at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.
The A400M has the ability to fly at a greater distance at a faster and higher altitude and carries nearly twice the payload of current tactical airlifters.
Dubbed as the world’s most versatile airlifter, it can help make every mission a success, be it aerial delivery, paratroopers or air-to-air refueling.
The A400M has shown its unique capability by landing on the shorelines of Pembrey Sands-South Wales, the United Kingdom, demonstrating the excellent performance of the airlifter onto such a surface.
The A400M is designed to operate from unpaved airfields, or short runway because of its short-landing and take-off capability.
It can operate in limited space for parking or maneuvering and no ground-handling facilities, conditions that present severe constraints for other tactical airlifters that makes it especially suited for Philippine conditions.
On the other hand, the C-295 could be used for special maritime patrol “because the Philippines has a large coastline.” The same plane could be a replacement to the 50-year-old workhorse, the C-130 Hercules troop and cargo carrier,” because the C-295 is twice as fast at twice the distance, and twice the payload.
For maritime patrol, the airplane could be equipped with Hadar interactive radar maps, electronic sensor or for detecting submarines. “The C-295 can be weaponized for anti-submarine warfare and anti-ships,” Pelissier said.
Airbus is offering the plane, along with helicopters and airplane parts, to the Armed Forces military upgrading program.
The company, which has its assembly plant in Spain, said the Coast Guard has placed an order for one H145 helicopter, making it the first H145 parapublic operator in the Philippines.
The H145 is the market leader for rescue missions, with over 1,400 helicopters of the H145 family in service globally. The chopper has achieved close to 5 million flight hours.
“In the Philippines alone, there are currently four H145 helicopters operating, mainly for business aviation purposes,” Airbus said.