Airbus officially handed over the first A400M to the Kazakh Air Defence Forces on December 10. The ceremony was held at Almaty airbase, where the tactical turboprop transport landed last week.
Kazakhstan ordered two A400Ms in September 2021 to expand its military transport capabilities, which were previously limited to an Antonov An-72, as well as smaller turboprops such as the C295 and An-24/26.
The aircraft, serial number MSN139, first flew in June, but it was only six months later that it left Seville, Spain, for delivery.
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“Proven for over a decade in military and humanitarian operations worldwide, the A400M is a game changer for the Kazakh Air Defense Forces, delivering unrivaled tactical and strategic capabilities in a single platform,” said Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space. “A second A400M, currently in production, will further strengthen these capabilities upon its delivery in 2026.”
The Kazakh A400M has a distinctive paint job from other aircraft of its type, featuring a glossy gray hue.
According to Airbus, there are more than 130 of the type in operation in nine countries and they have accumulated 200,000 flight hours.
