French Air Force currently has 21 A400M military transport aircraft in its disposal. Of these, lion's share of up to 20 aircraft, each with maximum takeoff mass up to 141 tons, French military wants to transform into improvised cruise missile, drone and aviation bomb carriers with flight range up to 9,000 kilometers.
Looks like peculiar enlarged analog of An-28 idea in Ukraine as platform for anti-aircraft drones and machine guns. However, further question arises about how specifically this French A400M idea should be implemented.
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As French portal Opex360 writes, French Defense Ministry's Directorate General of Armaments (DGA) already gave corporation corresponding A400M work order to Airbus. At conceptual level such idea was discussed back in 2025.
Work cost is not disclosed, however it is indicated that initially French military wanted to write this project into updated 2024-2030 Military Programming Law, but ultimately did not wait for French parliament to approve corresponding amendments.
For A400M improvised strike aircraft conversion possibility, Airbus must create separate payload management system (PMS), with six such kit orders envisioned. First tests with certification should occur by end of 2028. Basic requirement, not only guided weapons employment possibility but also ability to interact with tactical aviation and ground forces on battlefield.
French proceed from quite simple concept, spacious A400M cargo compartment itself enables making this aircraft universal, specifically regarding strike weapons employment capabilities, but corresponding weapons kit installation is needed.
What exactly combat payload French A400M will carry in case of corresponding modernization is not yet indicated. However, we can assume parameters here will be analogous to Airbus project for Germany, meaning up to 12 Taurus-class cruise missiles or up to 50 various drone types.
However, regardless of what specific weapons French A400M will employ after corresponding work, question arises about their survivability in modern war conditions. Planned work timeline of over 2 years to first test flight appears too long for improvised project.
Additionally, somewhat illogical appears planned distribution, six PMS kits for 20 aircraft. More logical would be having specifically larger equipment kit quantity for smaller aircraft quantity, in case some PMS components fail for technical reasons.
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