Farnborough 2026: Airbus DS reports record customer interest in A400M

A UK Royal Air Force A400M was shown on the static display at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026. Airbus noted unprecedented customer interest in the airlifter at the event. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)

Airbus Defence and Space (DS) has reported more customer interest in its A400M transport aircraft than at any time since the company signed its first export order in 2005.

Speaking at the Farnborough International Airshow 2026 (FIA26), the head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space (DS), Jean-Brice Dumont, said that this increased interest was the result of potential new customers, follow-on customers, and also the new shared NATO fleet that was recently announced.

“I have never seen negotiations around the A400M as large as the ones we have today, within this NATO framework and individual countries,” Dumont said on 22 July 2026, adding, “Do not forget that this aircraft is positioned both on the tactical and the strategic segment of military airlift – at the moment you might observe that there is no bigger transport aircraft in production.”

Airbus DS has to date received 178 orders for the A400M, of which 139 have so far been delivered. The company's order book for the A400M comprises Belgium (seven), France (50), Germany (53), Indonesia (two, plus options for four), Kazakhstan (two), Luxembourg (one), Malaysia (four), Spain (27), Türkiye (10), and the United Kingdom (22).