Airbus delivers first A400M to the Belgian Air Force

It was reported on Dec. 22 that the Belgian Air Force has taken delivery of its first of seven Airbus A400M military transport aircraft, a structure which makes use of several carbon fiber composite parts. The aircraft was handed over to the customer at the A400M Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Seville, Spain, and subsequently performed its ferry flight to the 15^th Wing Air Transport in Melsbroek, Belgium, where the aircraft will be based.
 
Th delivered A400M, known as MSN106, will be operated within a binational unit composed of a total of eight aircraft, seven from the Belgian Air Force and one from the Luxembourg Armed Forces. The second A400M for Belgium will be delivered in early 2021.

“With the delivery of this aircraft all launch customers are now equipped with the A400M,” says Alberto Gutierrez, head of Military Aircraft at Airbus Defence and Space. “MSN106 will join Luxemburg’s aircraft in the binational unit operated jointly with Belgium. Despite challenges due to COVID-19, our teams have achieved all 10 aircraft deliveries scheduled this year, bringing the global fleet in operation to 98 aircraft.”