The A400M's story begins in the early 1980s with the formation of the Future International Military Airlifter (FIMA) group in 1982. Established as a collaborative effort among Aérospatiale (France), British Aerospace (UK), Lockheed (USA), and Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB, Germany), FIMA aimed to develop a modern replacement for aging tactical airlifters like the Lockheed C-130 Hercules and Transall C-160. The goal was to create an aircraft with greater payload capacity, extended range, and enhanced versatility to meet the diverse requirements of NATO-aligned air forces. Progress was slow due to differing national requirements and the complexities of international politics. In 1989, Lockheed withdrew from FIMA to focus on its C-130J Super Hercules, a modernized version of the C-130. The remaining partners, joined by Alenia (Italy) and CASA (Spain), reorganized as the European Future Large Aircraft Group (EUROFLAG). By 1995, the Airbus Military took over the program, formalizing the aircraft's designation as the A400M. The project transitioned from conceptual studies to a concrete development plan, with a focus on a turboprop-powered aircraft to balance tactical agility with strategic reach.

Project History