This footage was filmed and produced 5 December 2023.

Airbus Defence and Space has completed a successful two-week flight-test campaign for the A400M Roll-on/Roll-off firefighting prototype kit. The aircraft dropped 20,000 litres of retardant, creating over 400-metre-long high concentration lines on the ground.

The new kit demonstrated improved dropping efficiency, reducing discharge time by over 30% compared to the previous version. The A400M conducted six drops, three with red-coloured retardant and three with water. Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Military Air Systems at Airbus Defence and Space, stated, “We continue to pioneer new solutions and capabilities for our A400M fleet, in this case protecting populations and natural environments from fires.”

The roll-on/roll-off kit, easily installed without modifying the aircraft, is interchangeable among A400M fleet members. It features a gravity-fed liquid discharge system, allowing for quick deployment. The 43rd Firefighting Squadron of the Spanish Air Force participated as technical advisors during the campaign, affirming the operational value of this capability.

In July 2022, Airbus tested a removable firefighting demonstrator kit on the A400M, highlighting its high-dropping capacity, manoeuvrability, day and night operation, and the potential to convert any regular A400M into a firefighting aircraft at short notice.

[NOTE: no sound]