Airbus has flight-tested the latest prototype of its A400M roll-on/roll-off modular kit, which turns a standard Airbus A400M turboprop military transport aircraft into a firefighting bomber that can drop water and retardant on fire scenes.
The use of aircraft to drop water and retardant on wildfires and forest fires is undoubtedly spectacular and has saved many lives and billions of dollars in property over the years. Originally conceived in 1929, the technology has developed over the years resulting in a large number of modified and purpose-built fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft with water carrying capacities ranging from 570 gallons (2,200 liters) to 19,600 gallons (74,000 liters).
While these aircraft provide an important service, they also have their limitations. Some are amphibious aircraft, some can only operate on land, some require longer apron runways, and some require special auxiliary equipment. Another problem is that, as specialty aircraft, there are only so many available at any one time, and when there are no fires, they have no job.
Airbus's new prototype solves these difficulties by turning the fire-fighting equipment into a self-contained kit that simply rolls into the cargo bay, with the tail of the kit extending out for installation on an A400M transport aircraft. The kit's fuel tank holds 4,400 gallons (20,000 liters) of retardant or water, and a mechanical lever opens a door to drain the tank at once by gravity. Jars can be filled in 10 minutes using a standard high-pressure pump.
Since the A400M is a military transport aircraft, it can operate on short unpaved runways with limited facilities, which makes firefighting deployment more flexible. In addition, as a piece of equipment, it can be installed on as many aircraft as possible, and after the fire is extinguished and the equipment is removed, the aircraft can return to perform other tasks.
With the help of the Spanish Air Force's 43rd Fire Fighting Squadron, Airbus conducted a series of six airdrop tests in southwestern and central Spain, three using colored flame retardants on modified prototypes and three using water.
Jean-Blaise Dumont, head of military aviation systems at Airbus Defense and Space, said: "We have tested a new version of the kit that has improved delivery efficiency and reduced delivery time by more than 30% compared to last year, while also enabling rapid deployment and easy installation on the A400M aircraft. We will continue to pioneer new solutions and capabilities for our A400M fleet, in this case, protecting the population and the natural environment from the impact of fire."