The AIRBUS A400M Atlas has taken over primacy as the predominant RAF air movements platform since the recent decommissioning of the Hercules C130.
The A400 has played a major role in recent RAF operations, most notably Operation Pitting, the Kabul evacuation in August 2021, where the UK Government with little notice deployed UK Armed Forces to initially evacuate 2.5k entitled personnel. Given the extemporaneous nature of the evacuation due to the precipitating security conditions, 15,375 entitled personnel were eventually evacuated. This became UKAF biggest operation since the Berlin Airlift.
More recently the A400 demonstrated its utility once again by participating in Operation Polar Bear, the recent Non-combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) in Sudan. Doing much of the heavy lifting, the A400 contributed to the evacuation of more than 2,000 people. Its short take off landing capability renders it suitable to these type of operations, particularly accessing what would be otherwise difficult and unorthodox runways impossible for other aircraft.
Of the 20 evacuation flights flown, the A400 crew of Ascot 9950 flew 8 of them, including the final evacuation flights from Wadi Seidna airfield located to the North of Khartoum. Ascot 9950 repeatedly exceeded its passenger capacity to ensure the British government got as many people to safety as possible, with flights encompassing up to 198 people.
Loadmaster FS Jim Rothwell, 49, who has served for 24 years and comprises one of Ascot 9950s crew said:
The A400 has been really good, it’s being constantly used we’re going backwards and forwards, repeatedly everyday and its certainly proven itself on this operation. It’s an asset to the Air Mobility Force. Non-combatant evacuation operations don’t last very long but all the team pulls together to get the job done. It’s given the newer crew members operational experience.
Wg Cdr Richard Fawkes, Commanding Officer of 903 Expeditionary Air Wing, whose is responsible for conducting air operations against ISIS in Iraq and Syria said:
The A400 is simply a phenomenal aircraft. It brings an enormous technological advantage and will become a highly superior air mobility platform.