Back in 2001 the Luxembourgish and Belgian governments signed a cooperation treaty, which notably included sharing an Airbus A400M on strategic grounds.
In total, the two governments ordered eight aircraft - seven for Belgium and one for Luxembourg. Once the Luxembourgish aircraft becomes operational in 2021, it will be stationed at the Belgian Melsbroek military airport.
The first aircraft of the initial order should be delivered next May. This aircraft, the one attributed to Luxembourg, will then be followed by the next seven by 2022.
None of the eight A400M aircrafts are fully constructed, despite the initial order being placed in 2001. Luxembourg is paying €200 million for one of the eight aircraft.
The ongoing works at the Airbus site in Serville concern connecting the main structure of the aircraft with the cockpit. The A400M has a surface area of 356 cubic metres and can transport weights of up to 37 tonnes.
The aircraft has space for 120 individuals inside.
A delegation of Luxembourgish MPs and army representatives visited the Spanish city on Tuesday alongside their Belgian counterparts. The delegation was made up of 96 individuals, although Minister of Defence François Bausch was notably absent. His Belgian counterpart, Didier Reynders, was there in his stead. The MPs on the official visit on Tuesday were five MPs from the parliamentary commission on defence.
Video in English.
As Reynders explained on Tuesday, the aircraft would not necessarily be used for military purposes. Instead, he outlined that the A400M could be used for humanitarian operations, as per the "Bifas" programme. The A400M would allow the military to intervene quickly in natural catastrophes.
The A400M could be used in such situations, as it was created to handle difficult missions and terrains. The aircraft's use, for both countries, could take place in a NATO or UN context.
Although countries can require individual specifications, the general defence councillor Gilles Feidt confirmed that Luxembourg and Belgium have decided to have the same specifications. The zone which adjusts specifications was not visible in the warehouse, as it was hidden from sight.
