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Airbus A400M to Launch Drones in Swarm Attack
4 Feb
Summary
- A400M aircraft will be adapted to deploy drones and deep strike weapons.
- A medium-sized mothership variant could carry up to 50 drones.
- Concept version delivery is targeted for 2029 with a European customer.

Airbus is advancing plans to transform its A400M cargo aircraft into a "mothership" capable of deploying drones and deep strike weapons. The company aims to deliver a concept version of this enhanced A400M by 2029, working alongside a European customer. This new iteration will utilize a modular system for loading drones, with a medium-sized mothership variant projected to carry up to 50 drones.
This capability promises to offer a significant "deep strike" potential previously unseen. Airbus's program head highlighted the potential for the aircraft to "deploy as a swarm." This development occurs amid similar drone deployment concepts being explored globally, including the US Rapid Dragon program and China's "Jiutian" drone mothership.




