- A £190 million contract extension with Airbus will support the RAF’s A400 Atlas fleet while safeguarding over 350 UK jobs.
- The deal will raise the daily number of mission‑ready A400M aircraft from 10 to 13 by the end of 2027.
- The agreement will strengthen the UK’s air‑defence capability.
Under a £190 million contract extension between the Ministry of Defence and Airbus, the RAF’s tactical and strategic airlift fleet will see a 30 % rise in availability.
Airbus will maintain its maintenance, repair and support work for the RAF’s A400M Atlas fleet from the UK Support Centre at RAF Brize Norton.
Besides preserving over 350 UK jobs, the extended contract will markedly enhance operational capability, pushing the daily count of fully mission‑capable aircraft from 10 to 13 by the end of 2027.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP said:
This contract extension shows confidence in British engineering and the Brize Norton and Carterton teams that keep the A400M fleet airborne.
Increasing the aircraft’s availability will strengthen the RAF’s ability to carry out global missions and meet NATO obligations when needed, while protecting UK jobs and delivering value for taxpayers.
The A400M Atlas forms a cornerstone of the UK’s air‑mobility capability, supporting missions from humanitarian relief to rapid troop deployment.
Ongoing support at RAF Brize Norton will keep the fleet ready to meet those demands without interruption, reflecting the government’s broader commitment to bolster the UK defence industrial base and secure value for money in defence contracts.
Air Cdre Si Young, Head Air Mobility in National Armaments Materiel, said:
This contract will keep improving A400M fleet availability, building on recent gains and giving our armed forces the capability they need while delivering excellent value for taxpayers and supporting a platform central to RAF operations now and in the future.
It highlights the strength of our partnership with Airbus and our joint commitment to fostering the continued growth and success of the A400M fleet, today and tomorrow.
The 31‑month extension of the Medium‑Term Contract will keep support services running until April 2029, maintaining more than 240 Airbus employees and 110 primary sub‑contractor staff.
Kata Escott, Managing Director of Airbus Defence and Space UK, said:
Along with the financial savings, the extended contract will deliver a notable boost to operational capability, aiming to raise the daily number of fully mission‑capable aircraft from 10 to 13 by the end of 2027 – a 30 % improvement in availability for the RAF’s tactical and strategic airlift fleet.
This will bolster the RAF’s capacity to conduct global air‑mobility missions, such as humanitarian relief, troop transport and NATO commitments.
The contract builds on the Defence Investment Plan, which earmarks £298 billion for UK defence over the next four years. That plan will drive sustained investment across British industry, keeping the defence sector a cornerstone of the nation’s economic renewal.
