Germany plans to buy 16 Airbus A400M military transport aircraft

Germany plans to purchase 16 Airbus A400M military transport aircraft to replace older planes, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on September 29.

Pistorius said the German government was in “very good” talks with Airbus, although any deal would still require approval from the Bundestag, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The value of the potential contract has not yet been determined. Pistorius said the purchase would involve an investment worth “billions of euros.”

The Bundestag currently operates 53 A400M aircraft, stationed at Wunstorf Air Base near Hannover in Lower Saxony. Pistorius said 16 of the aircraft do not have tactical capabilities and can only be used for transport.

He described the A400M as “the best aircraft in its class.”

The aircraft can carry up to 37 metric tons of cargo and has a range of nearly 6,300 kilometres.

By Sabina Mammadli