February 21, 2024

OCCAR: final Airbus A400M transport aicraft delivered to Belgium

Source: OCCAR

To mark the delivery of the final A400M to Belgium, senior level representation from all stakeholders were invited to Melsbroek Airbase, the home of the 15th Air Transport Wing of the Belgian Armed Forces. OCCAR-EA Director Joachim Sucker and the A400M Programme Manager, Mr Philippe Bourgault, as well as representatives from the AC acceptance team in Sevilla attended the event to show their support for the strong and effective relationship between OCCAR and Nations as the key to a successful aircraft delivery.

The event commenced with a warm welcome of the Belgian Base Commander Colonel Beeckmans, followed by speeches from the Belgian Minister of Defence Mrs. Ludivine Dedonder and the Luxembourg Minister of Defence Mrs. Yuriko Backes. Both highlighted the importance of their close cooperation in the A400M programme that can serve as role model within the European Defence community.

Additionally, both Ministers emphasized the multirole capabilities of A400M, which have already proven to be essential for various military missions. Such capabilities have become even more important nowadays in the context of multiple crisis such as the Ukraine war.

The event was concluded with the traditional airplane christening of the AC to formally introduce it into the BELUX fleet followed by a static display of the LU A/C MSN104.

MSN133 is the 8^th and final AC to be delivered to the Belgian and Luxembourg Air Forces (Belgium and Luxembourg combined to procure 8 aircraft in total, with Belgium representing the interests of LU in the 6-Nation OCCAR Programme) from the current Development and Production contract. Acceptance activities were launched in November 2023 and following a smooth delivery process, contractual acceptance of the AC was completed at the Final Assembly Line, in Seville, on 14^th December 2023. The Ferry Flight of MSN133 from Seville to Belgium took place on 11.01.2024 completing the delivery of the BELUX fleet.