Malaysia has taken delivery of its first Airbus A400M tactical transport, making it the first country to receive the type beyond the aircraft’s launch nations.

Aircraft MSN22 was formally handed over to Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) officials at Airbus Defence & Space’s final assembly facility in Seville, Spain.

“The A400M will give the RMAF the most advanced heavy transport capability in the region and enable us to undertake an extraordinary range of military and humanitarian operations,” says Malaysian air force chief Gen Roslan Bin Saad.

Kuala Lumpur is due to receive three additional A400Ms.

The aircraft is due to appear at next week’s LIMA air show on the resort island of Langkawi. The show’s web site indicates that the A400M will appear in the show’s flying display.

RMAF A400M

RMAF A400M

Both images: Airbus Defence & Space

Source: FlightGlobal.com