Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Royal Air Force (RAF) Airbus A400M Atlas C Mk.1, ZM402, of 70 Squadron, RAF based at RAF Brize Norton, performs a flypast on Friday of the Eastbourne Airshow 2025.
This aircraft was the 17th manufactured, first flew on 23 December 2014 and was delivered to the RAF on 27 February 2015. It is currently with
70 Squadron at RAF Brize Norton.
Entering operational service with the RAF in 2014, the Atlas C Mk.1 provides tactical airlift and strategic oversize lift capabilities, complementing those of the Boeing C-17 fleet.
It has the ability to carry a 37-tonne payload, over 2,000nautical miles to established and remote civilian and military airfields, and short unprepared or semi-prepared strips. It's capable of operating at altitudes up to 40,000ft and also offers impressive low-level capability.
It will accommodate as many as 116 fully-equipped troops; vehicles; helicopters, including a Chinook; mixed loads, including nine aircraft pallets and 54 passengers, or combinations of vehicles, pallets and personnel, up to a payload of 37 tonnes.
Loads are delivered by parachute, gravity extraction from the aircraft’s rear ramp (influenced by the cargo’s own weight), or by landing. Paratroops will be dropped from the aircraft’s dedicated paratroop doors, or from the rear ramp. The Atlas C.1 is operated by two pilots and a Weapons Systems Operator (Crewman) (WSOp (Cmn)).
During May 2023 the RAF took delivery of its 22nd Atlas C Mk.1, marking the completion of the types delivery, development and production phase. Development of the platform will continue with aircraft cycling through a retro-fit programme to reach an operating configuration with significant commonality to that of the other A400M operators France, Germany, Spain, Turkey, Benelux and Malaysia. In parallel, its tactical capability will continue to expand, including the full range of support to UK airborne forces.
Since entering RAF service in 2014, Atlas has repeatedly proven itself. It has excelled during relief operations in the Caribbean and contributed fully to the military response to COVID, transporting patients, equipment & vaccines. It played a pivotal role in the evacuation of entitled personnel from Afghanistan and Sudan, and has provided support to UK Defence operations around the globe, including the Middle East, Falkland Islands, and Mali.
In addition, Atlas supports enduring operations in the Middle East and NATO Air Policing operations in the Baltic. In the UK Atlas has a 24/7 national standby commitment and supported the UK Border Force with maritime reconnaissance (MRR) in the English Channel, long-range search and rescue (SAR) and overwatch. An Atlas is also based in the Falkland Islands, providing MRR, SAR and medical evacuation in the South Atlantic, and with the benefit of air-air refuelling airdropping supplies in Antarctica.
Powerplant: four 11,000shp EuroProp International TP400 turboprops
Length: 147ft 11in (45.10m)
Height: 48ft 2¾in (14.70m)
Wingspan: 139ft 1¼in (42.40m)
Maximum speed: 400kt (741km/h)
Maximum range: 4,100nm (7,593km)
Maximum altitude: 40,000ft
Maximum payload: 81,600lb (37,000kg)
This Video and Audio content is
Copyright © StephenKeeler (HightFlight/SkyHighFlightTV) All Rights Reserved
Royal Air Force (RAF) Airbus A400M Atlas C Mk.1, ZM402, of 70 Squadron, RAF based at RAF Brize Norton, performs a flypast on Friday of the Eastbourne Airshow 2025.
This aircraft was the 17th manufactured, first flew on 23 December 2014 and was delivered to the RAF on 27 February 2015. It is currently with
70 Squadron at RAF Brize Norton.
Entering operational service with the RAF in 2014, the Atlas C Mk.1 provides tactical airlift and strategic oversize lift capabilities, complementing those of the Boeing C-17 fleet.
It has the ability to carry a 37-tonne payload, over 2,000nautical miles to established and remote civilian and military airfields, and short unprepared or semi-prepared strips. It's capable of operating at altitudes up to 40,000ft and also offers impressive low-level capability.
It will accommodate as many as 116 fully-equipped troops; vehicles; helicopters, including a Chinook; mixed loads, including nine aircraft pallets and 54 passengers, or combinations of vehicles, pallets and personnel, up to a payload of 37 tonnes.
Loads are delivered by parachute, gravity extraction from the aircraft’s rear ramp (influenced by the cargo’s own weight), or by landing. Paratroops will be dropped from the aircraft’s dedicated paratroop doors, or from the rear ramp. The Atlas C.1 is operated by two pilots and a Weapons Systems Operator (Crewman) (WSOp (Cmn)).
During May 2023 the RAF took delivery of its 22nd Atlas C Mk.1, marking the completion of the types delivery, development and production phase. Development of the platform will continue with aircraft cycling through a retro-fit programme to reach an operating configuration with significant commonality to that of the other A400M operators France, Germany, Spain, Turkey, Benelux and Malaysia. In parallel, its tactical capability will continue to expand, including the full range of support to UK airborne forces.
Since entering RAF service in 2014, Atlas has repeatedly proven itself. It has excelled during relief operations in the Caribbean and contributed fully to the military response to COVID, transporting patients, equipment & vaccines. It played a pivotal role in the evacuation of entitled personnel from Afghanistan and Sudan, and has provided support to UK Defence operations around the globe, including the Middle East, Falkland Islands, and Mali.
In addition, Atlas supports enduring operations in the Middle East and NATO Air Policing operations in the Baltic. In the UK Atlas has a 24/7 national standby commitment and supported the UK Border Force with maritime reconnaissance (MRR) in the English Channel, long-range search and rescue (SAR) and overwatch. An Atlas is also based in the Falkland Islands, providing MRR, SAR and medical evacuation in the South Atlantic, and with the benefit of air-air refuelling airdropping supplies in Antarctica.
Powerplant: four 11,000shp EuroProp International TP400 turboprops
Length: 147ft 11in (45.10m)
Height: 48ft 2¾in (14.70m)
Wingspan: 139ft 1¼in (42.40m)
Maximum speed: 400kt (741km/h)
Maximum range: 4,100nm (7,593km)
Maximum altitude: 40,000ft
Maximum payload: 81,600lb (37,000kg)
This Video and Audio content is
Copyright © StephenKeeler (HightFlight/SkyHighFlightTV) All Rights Reserved
