Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • Airbus and OCCAR sign new A400M Global Support contract

Defence

Airbus and OCCAR sign new A400M Global Support contract

Airbus has signed the new A400M Global Support Step 2 contract with OCCAR (Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation), which manages the multinational programme on behalf of the Launch Customer Nations Germany, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Turkey, Belgium and Luxembourg.


Copyright Airbus

This is the first support contract for all A400M participating states and it replaces the Global Support agreement Step 1 signed in 2016, which provided support services for France, Spain and the UK.

The contract will bring the benefits of a fully integrated suite of common services using shared resources and assets. It provides a full range of tailored services to meet the needs of the A400M customers, from ground support to airworthiness and from maintenance to material
support.

Advertisement
PTC rectangle

This performance-based contract creates a new partnership framework, based on pooling and sharing, where industry and operators have the opportunity to explore new areas of collaboration, concepts and services. The modular structure of the services allows for the tailoring of solutions as per specific operational requirements.

The pooling and sharing under Airbus management will allow the A400M customers to benefit from significant savings while keeping the same highest standard of services.

This new phase of the A400M Global Support contract provides a support services package to a wider number of nations operating the A400M until the end of 2023.
After France, UK and Spain, which were part of the first phase, now Turkey, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg have joined as well.

Alberto Gutiérrez, Head of Military Aircraft at Airbus Defence and Space, said: “With this services contract, we are working together with our customers on innovative solutions never performed before on a military programme. After the agreement with the launch customer nations on the programme’s contract amendment this is another clear signal that through mutual collaboration we are strengthening the future of the A400M.”

Advertisement
ODU RT

Gary Palmer, OCCAR A400M Programme Manager, said: “The A400M Global Support contract covers more than 40 individual services working together, a complete pool of services from ground support to airworthiness, through to maintenance or material services. Under this collaborative model, the more nations that join the pool, the more efficient the services become from which customers can benefit.”

 

Advertisement
Gulfstream banner
HMS Active completes float off feat

Defence Events

HMS Active completes float off feat

30 March 2026

Building on the momentum of February's dual milestone event at Babcock’s Rosyth site, the Type 31 frigate programme has reached another significant stage, with HMS Active completing the float-off process.

Lockheed Martin joins MTC as Tier 1 member

Defence

Lockheed Martin joins MTC as Tier 1 member

30 March 2026

Lockheed Martin has joined the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) as a Tier 1 member which will see it collaborate on core research, capabilities and investments and play a key role in managing projects that address some of the pressing challenges being faced by defence industry supply chains.

RFA Lyme Bay gets mine hunting tech upgrade

Defence

RFA Lyme Bay gets mine hunting tech upgrade

30 March 2026

The Royal Navy is stepping up its mine hunting capabilities with new cutting-edge uncrewed equipment being added to RFA Lyme Bay in the coming days.

British Army retire Land Rover fleet

Defence

British Army retire Land Rover fleet

30 March 2026

British soldiers will use a new fleet of thousands of modern vehicles, following the start of the retirement of the iconic Land Rover fleet earlier this month, after 70 years of service.

Advertisement
PTC rectangle
James Heappey joins NAD Board

Defence

James Heappey joins NAD Board

30 March 2026

Former British Minister of State for the Armed Forces from 2020 to 2024 The Rt Hon Major James Heappey has joined the board of Swedish defence tech startup Nordic Air Defence (NAD), developers of the K100XR drone interceptor for civilian and military use.

BAE Systems partners with Scale AI on agentic AI for defence

Defence

BAE Systems partners with Scale AI on agentic AI for defence

27 March 2026

BAE Systems and Scale AI have announced a strategic relationship agreement to accelerate the development and fielding of advanced artificial intelligence capabilities in support of the US Department of War’s (DoW) high-stakes mission environments and operational platforms.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
FIA2026 animated banner