(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — One of the Royal Malaysian Air Force’s (RMAF) Airbus A400M strategic airlifter from the No 8 Squadron has successfully completed the retrofit program at the Airbus Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Seville, Spain.
This was announced by the RMAF social media account recently.
Following the completion of the retrofit program in Spain, the said A400M aircraft flew to Orleans Air Base, France, to participate in the Subject Matter Expert (SMEE) program involving the France Air and Space Force (FASF).
The SMEE program, led by the Air Region Commander 2, Major General Datuk Wan Amin Hafiz, aimed to facilitate collaboration and knowledge exchange between the RMAF and FASF.
On the first day of the program, the RMAF delegation visited the aircraft simulator center and training facility for A400M FASF.
The visit aimed to provide insights into the training facilities available, while the second day witnessed the sharing of perspectives and experiences between the RMAF and FASF.
The SMEE program was divided into two groups, with the first group consisting of crews and the second group comprising Engineering Officers.
The morning session of the SMEE program involved bilateral discussions between the RMAF and FASF, covering topics such as tactical flight operations, visits to the Equipe de Marque Avions de Transport (EMATT), and Le Centre de Soutien et d’Administrarion des system Mission (CESAM).
Members of the No 8 Squadron were also given the opportunity to operate the Full Flight Simulator (FFS) owned by FASF.
Furthermore, discussions between the engineering flight of No 8 Squadron took place at the Escadron de Soutien Technique Aeronautique (ESTA).
The Airbus A400M RMAF aircraft departed from Orleans Air Base on the morning of December 6, 2023, and safely arrived at Subang Air Base on December 7, 2023.
In an interview with a local English defense magazine earlier this year, RMAF Chief Tan Sri Mohd Asghar Khan Goriman Khan stated that the enhancement work on the capabilities of three Airbus A400M strategic transport aircraft is expected to be completed by 2027.
In March last year, Airbus announced that one of the four A400M RMAF transport aircraft had completed capability enhancement works and had been returned to the RMAF.
Following these capability enhancement works, the A400M RMAF transport aircraft is now capable of undertaking new and more challenging missions, such as parachute drops and low-level flights, as well as air supply missions.
In service with the RMAF since 2015, the A400M aircraft has transformed the air transport operations, playing a crucial role in various missions, including cargo and personnel transport, humanitarian missions, disaster relief, and heavy equipment transport.
The strategic transport aircraft A400M operated by the RMAF is under the administration of No 8 Squadron, following an internal restructuring effort by the RMAF, replacing No 22 Squadron.
RMAF was the first export customer for the A400M transport aircraft and the first A400M customer in the Asia-Pacific region.
As reported in previous media coverage, an A400M transport aircraft is capable of dropping approximately 116 parachutists through both of its doors on either side of the aircraft.
For low-level flights (Automatic Low Level Flight), the A400M aircraft is reported to be capable of flying approximately 500 feet above ground level.
As the Fleet Leader, the RMAF A400M aircraft is frequently referenced among users of A400M transport aircraft. The RMAF currently possesses four A400M transport aircraft. — DSA