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A total of 174 A400M aircraft had been ordered by eight nations by July 2011. Between 20, the A400M faced cancellation as a result of development programme delays and cost overruns however, the customer nations chose to maintain their support for the project.
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The A400M's maiden flight, originally planned for 2008, took place on 11 December 2009 from Seville Airport, Spain. In addition to its transport capabilities, the A400M can perform aerial refueling and medical evacuation when fitted with appropriate equipment. The A400M is sized between the C-130 and the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III it can carry heavier loads than the C-130 and is able to use rough landing strips. It was designed by Airbus Military (now Airbus Defence and Space) as a tactical airlifter with strategic capabilities to replace older transport aircraft, such as the Transall C-160 and the Lockheed C-130 Hercules.
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The Airbus A400M Atlas is a European four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft. Airbus Military / Airbus Defence and Space
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