Airbus signs extension to Malaysian A400M services contract
Kuala Lumpur, 18 April 2018 – Airbus has finalised a contract with Malaysia’s Ministry of Defence for the provision of a wide range of support services for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) A400M airlifters.
The agreement, which was signed today at the Defence Services Asia 2018 exhibition in Kuala Lumpur, extends an existing services deal between Airbus and the ministry. Malaysia is the first export customer for the A400M and the RMAF received its fourth aircraft in 2017.
Under the contract, Airbus will continue to provide performance-based services including material support, engineering services, flight operations and maintenance support for the RMAF A400Ms. Airbus will work with the local industry to deliver these services. The agreement also covers additional spare parts and ground equipment, as well as training courses, to support A400M air-to-air refuelling operations.
Airbus personnel will continue to be deployed at RMAF No 22 squadron at the Subang Air Base to support the service. However, their numbers will gradually reduce as RMAF officers and other locally-hired personnel take over the work.
Stephan Miegel, Head of Military Aircraft Services, Airbus Defence and Space, said: “The RMAF A400M fleet has been achieving excellent aircraft availability, which is testament to the effectiveness of the current services contract. We are strongly focused on continuing to build the RMAF’s expertise on the A400M and transferring the support activity to the air force itself and the local workforce.”
Malaysia is a key customer for Airbus across its divisions. In addition to the A400Ms, over 100 Airbus civil and military helicopters are in service in the country. Airbus has also secured orders for more than 720 passenger and cargo aircraft from Malaysian customers. The company has developed strong industrial partnerships in the country, and its activities are worth USD 400 million per year for Malaysia’s economy and sustain over 4,000 local jobs.