First production A400M Airbus Military transport aircraft flies in Turkish Air force colours 2908131.

The A400M is a multi-national four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. It was designed by Airbus Military as a tactical airlifter with strategic capabilities. The aircraft's maiden flight, originally planned for 2008, took place on 11 December 2009 in Seville, Spain.

The Airbus Military A400M will increase the airlift capacity and range compared with the aircraft it was originally set to replace, the older versions of the C-130 Hercules and C-160 Transall. Cargo capacity is expected to double over existing aircraft, both in payload and volume, and range is increased substantially as well. The cargo box is 17.71 m long excluding ramp, 4.00 m wide, and 3.85 m high (or 4.00 m aft of the wing) and the ramp is 5.40 m long.

The A400M will operate in many configurations including cargo transport, troop transport, medical evacuation, aerial refuelling, and electronic surveillance The aircraft is intended for use on short, soft landing strips and for long-range, cargo transport flights.

The A400M was launched in 2003 to respond to the combined needs of seven European Nations regrouped within OCCAR (Belgium, France, Germany, Luxemburg, Spain, Turkey and the UK), with Malaysia joining in 2005.

A total of 10 aircrafts will be delivered to the Turkish Air Force by 2018. Airbus has made an offer to Turkey to open a regional maintenance center for A400M’s in the country. The company targets a market of 1,000 A400M’s in the next 20 years.