The House of Commons Defence Committee has raised concerns over the operational availability of the RAF’s A400M Atlas transport aircraft, following a written update from the Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry, Rt Hon Maria Eagle MP.
In a follow-up letter dated 27 March, Committee Chair Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP questioned why current availability targets for the 22-strong fleet are set at just ten aircraft per day, observing that this represents less than 50% of the fleet.
He noted that earlier Ministry of Defence (MOD) figures from 2023 placed availability between 13 and 16 aircraft—around 65% to 75%—and requested clarification on why availability appears to have declined.
The Committee has asked the MOD to explain how availability is calculated, the rationale for current targets, and how those targets are expected to evolve over the next three years. MPs are also seeking an update on Air Command’s work to improve availability, as noted in previous National Audit Office reports.
In her earlier correspondence to the Committee, Maria Eagle said the MOD had made progress through a “robust Availability Improvement Programme (AIP)” launched in 2022. She wrote that aircraft availability now stands at an average of ten aircraft per day—meeting the current target—and marks a 66% improvement on financial year 2021–22 and a 26% improvement on 2022–23.
Eagle also stated that the A400M fleet achieved its projected 9,280 flying hours for the 2023–24 financial year. However, MPs have noted that annual flying hours remain relatively low and have asked for comparisons with original programme targets and current operational needs.
The Committee has also requested further detail on platform capability, including crew availability and the progress of spiral upgrades intended to bring the aircraft to full operational capability.
In her letter, Eagle confirmed that negotiations for the Future Engine Support Contract with Europrop International had been successfully concluded. The UK’s share of the contract, worth approximately £256 million, will provide continued support for the A400M’s engines until at least 2028. The deal includes incentives for industry to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
The A400M Atlas is the RAF’s primary tactical airlift aircraft, capable of carrying heavy payloads over long distances. It plays a key role in supporting operations globally, including humanitarian aid deliveries and military logistics in the Middle East, Ukraine, and beyond.
While Maria Eagle described recent progress as “a very positive period” for the A400M programme, the Committee’s letter indicates that concerns remain about the platform’s availability and future readiness. The Ministry of Defence is expected to provide further information in due course.
Photo by Ronnie Macdonald [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons.
Rubbish ac built by Airbus. Such availability for a new frame is an utter disgrace. And we got rid of our Hercs….
I think it’s a very capable aircraft, just too few as usual.
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Availability more likely due to issues with getting spares, number of qualified maintainers, etc, etc, and nothing to do with the aircraft.
It can carry more and further than a Hercules, while operating from shorter runways. And, it’s not American, which is a positive while the Trump Regime is in power.
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Isn’t there plans to buy a fee more?
Few more.
Looks wistfully at the “Sunset Capabilities” of the Hercs that were so knackered it’s reported that Turkey has bought 10 of them.
Both complemented the other nicely, allowing Herc to do specialised stuff with DSF and Atlas more of the standard route stuff, and C17 for Strategic lift, augmented by Voyagers as necessary.
Thrown away.
It’s reported the extra 6 Atlas now won’t be ordered. An easy “cut: as most will have forgotten or not even aware that the Hercs existed.
Standard.
One of the worlds greatest airplanes Daniele. We had them here in SA for many years. Now sadly the SAAF has only SIX operational aircraft out of an inventory of 330!! Never could there be such a truer advert for the utter destruction of SA’s infrastructure as inflicted on this country by the ANC. Apart from all the other disasters they cannot even hold to the most important task of defending the nation.
I’m sorry to hear that my friend.
It was Justin Bronk from RUSIS main ascertain that the transport fleet is too big (C17, A400M and Chinook) and that it’s largely not required for a war with Russia. He states it should be cut and the funds used to increase the fast jet force.
In modern high end warfare against a near peer adversary flying around in helicopters or transport aircraft with in hundreds of miles of the front line may be suicide.
If these platforms can’t operate near the front line then are they worth the very high cost.
As I mentioned the other day, the world, and our commitments in it, are bigger than just Russia.
The military is deployed in many countries.
Nobody for even a moment thinks transport or AAW assets be flying about that close to a “front line” and that is no justification to get rid of them.
Reducing theatre lift to then spend more on fast air….where are these extra jets?
Both are needed, and transport and enabling assets have a wider military use in all levels of military ops. Fast jets don’t.
Examples.
Kenya a few years ago.
Ongoing SF and SOF ops through Africa and the M East.
The FI Airbridge or reinforcement.
Humanitarian operations yet to occur.
Countless contingency plans that exist to deploy 16 or SF abroad for ops or even just evac.
Ongoing resupply of certain items to our PJOBs.
Fast jets do none of this. Get rid of them! 🙄
I agree, the big question is the budget, on 3% of GDP you can do everything. On 2% you either pick expeditionary or European defence but not both.
The transport fleet is really not needed for a war with Russia, it provides almost no defence for the UK. Its one of the points often over looked when people remark just how much bang places like Finland get for their defence buck and how much countries like the UK and USA have to pay to maintain globally deployable forces.
Things like transport aircraft cost a lot of money and provide no real bang but if you are deploying beyond your own boarders they are vital.
And how do you move an intervention force into Africa or maintain an air bridge to the Falklands, quickly reenforce the northern flank of NATO.
Strategic air lifetime is vital.
Bla bla bla, cuts and more cuts , another 6 at least are needed, of course neber Will be ordered.
*never.
Are they needed and what role do they play in the defence of Europe?
You can very easily drive from the UK to Estonia, Poland or Ukraine. Do we need transport aircraft that cost hundreds of millions and a very vulnerable to interception in the air and as they land.
Yes, we do.. More than ever.
Our ability to project via Sea and the Chunnel (very good piece from Sir Humprey on the Pinstriped Line considering cold war planning of exactly this…) provides far more choke points, especially considering the depth of influence of a modern battlefield. Driving or training becomes far more difficult in a constrained environment. Ground lines of communication are inherently more vulnerable than air, Russia learnt this very quickly in 2022. There is no single answer for logistics, we need to maintain and develop logistics across Road, Sea, Rail and Air. All have benefits in different circumstances to the logistics commander and our doctrine is developing to a far more dispersed and mobile logistics force. Being able to project mass rapidly to small unprepared airfields is a critical capability in Europe, more so when we consider medevac ‘ing wounded personnel. Plus, collateral ability to refuel Typhoons in the air.
They are inherently interoperable with our European allies which is really significant when you get into the sub-tactical/practical elements of tie-down schemes for equipment, refueling other forces fast jets and conducting emergent maintenance when deployed.
These are versatile and capable airframes which unfortunately had some very serious teething problems. Sounds like we are over the back of them which is good news. Very well suited to operating in Europe …AAAAAAND yes of course we should have kept the Hercs and ordered far more of these (more aligned with Armee de l’air/Luftwaffe’s numbers imo!)
I think that would be a sealift job and air. Why would drive your forces all that way? That’s not a very good supply chain, the crew will tired, not very rapid, and vehicles will be buggered.
Forgot trains.
I do think NATO/Europeans need to work out a way of increasing and sharing transport aircraft more in the future, if possible.
John, have a quick google of Movement Controle Center Europe, there is an established way of the euro-nations sharing air transport. It is really efficient and one of the best examples of routine operational output with our allies. It has the unfortunate double-tap of being both European and boring logistics… so doesn’t really get spoken about. It coordinates the sharing of sea, road and air assets from Eindhoven, rotational Command with an RAF Gp Capt as director every third assignment.
Alrighty..Thx, will have a look..
Not one Herc replaced. 14 binned. Saving what? Not enough flying hours undertaken in any branch of the RAF?
So ,30% availability now then