Airbus Plans Drone-Carrying Version of A400M by 2029

Airbus plans to deliver a conceptual version of the A400M military transport aircraft by 2029, adapted for the role of an “air carrier” — a platform for carrying and deploying unmanned aerial vehicles.

Opex360 reported this news.

The project is being developed together with a European customer, whose identity has not been disclosed. Airbus plans to use a modular roll-on/roll-off system.

This would allow operators to quickly install kits for onboard drone launch and control, and replace them with other modules.

Gerd Weber, Head of the A400M Program, noted that in a medium configuration, the aircraft could carry up to 50 small or up to 12 heavy Remote Carriers.

This would enable the large-scale use of drone swarms for long-range strike missions. According to Weber, the capability opens new options for deep-strike operations.

Airbus has previously tested the launch of a Remote Carrier demonstrator from the A400M. Successful airdrop and drone operation trials were conducted in late 2022 in cooperation with German partners, including the Bundeswehr, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), and industry contractors.

These studies laid the groundwork for transforming the A400M into a dedicated carrier platform. Airbus Defence and Space said unmanned aerial systems are already a central element of military operations and are expected to grow in importance, supporting missions in close coordination with manned combat aircraft.