A new-generation military aircraft for which SA's Denel partnered with Saab Aerostructures and Aerosud was launched yesterday in Seville by Spain's King Juan Carlos.

The A400M, hailed as the first new-generation military aircraft in 30 years, is expected to be worth at least € 750m to Denel and Aerosud over the next 20 years.

Airbus Military, a subsidiary of Airbus, has calculated that the A400M programme will add R859m to SA's gross domestic product each year for the next 15 years *1.

The military airlifter, of which Airbus is the major shareholder, was designed to meet the needs of several European members of Nato (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) and has a maximum payload of 37 tons.

It can accommodate all the loads specified by customers ­ which include helicopters, light armoured vehicles, civil and military pallets and containers, and heavy earth-moving equipment.

Intended to be both tactical and strategic, the A400M has the highest cruise altitude service ceiling of its class which enables integration into commercial traffic patterns. The aircraft can fly long distances, such as to Europe, non stop without needing to refuel, and can land on unprepared landing strips.

The A400M programme was launched in 2003 with a single order for 180 aircraft for seven European countries.

In December 2005, the South African government ordered eight aircraft, followed by Malaysia with four.

The aircraft is Airbus's first truly military aircraft.

The A400M is being assembled in Seville, with parts coming from industrial sites around the world.

Denel is responsible for the design, engineering and manufacture of several elements of it, the largest of which is the carbon composite wing-fuselage fairing.

Delivery of the aircraft, which is running six months behind schedule, is expected to begin in 2010.

Carlos Suarez Perez, Airbus Military's CEO, said at the A400M's first public appearance yesterday, "With outsize load capacity, long range, high cruise and outstanding tactical capability, the state of the art A400M is the airlifter of the 21st century. "

King Juan Carlos hailed the project, saying it was of paramount importance for the European aerospace industry.

"It is an example of intense industrial and military co- operation intended to create an aircraft that satisfies strict aerospace tactical, logistic transport requirements."

Louis Gallois, CEO of EADS, the parent company of Airbus, thanked SA and Malaysia, the first customers outside Europe for their confidence.

The new aircraft was decorated with the flags of all customer and partner nations: Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Malaysia, SA, Spain, Turkey and the UK.

With acknowledgements to Chantelle Benjamin and Business Day.