Germany's Special Air Mission Wing fleet welcomes a new member.

he contract has a total volume of around €90 million and includes the procurement and retrofitting of the Airbus A321 as well as the acquisition of spare parts and the adaptation of the aircraft to the specific requirements of the Special Air Mission Wing. Lufthansa Technik AG also takes care of technical and flight training for the new aircraft’s personnel.

The retrofitting is scheduled to be carried out at Lufthansa Technik AG’s base in Hamburg and to be completed by achieving a civilian airworthiness certificate. Subsequently, the Bundeswehr Aviation Office will issue the military airworthiness certificate for the aircraft (including its additional military components).

“The Airbus A321 can transport 70 passengers and their luggage non-stop for up to 2,800 nautical miles (around 5,200 kilometers) and even land at smaller airports,” Michael Engelmann explained on the occasion of signing the contract in Koblenz. “Also, the aircraft will integrate seamlessly into the operational concept of the Airbus fleet within the Special Air Mission Wing of the FMoD. That will maximize synergy effects in the areas of operation, maintenance and support.”

The Special Air Mission Wing of the Federal Ministry of Defense is tasked with the transport of political and parliamentary representatives, casualties from mission areas as well as personnel and materiel within the context of military operations. From 2018 onwards, the A321 will systematically complement the existing long-haul and medium-haul fleet and be stationed in Wahn, a locality of Cologne.