France to transform A400M into airborne command, ISR and drone-mothership platform

France has launched a major upgrade programme for its A400M fleet, awarding Airbus Defence and Space a contract through OCCAR and the Direction générale de l’armement (DGA) to develop new multi-mission capabilities under the Parallel Mission System (PMS) programme.

The upgrade will transform the Airbus A400M Atlas from a tactical airlifter into a platform capable of conducting intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions and serving as an airborne command-and-control (C2) node.

Key enhancements include:

• Installation of a new mission system and operator consoles in the cargo hold.
• Integration of an electro-optical sensor for ISR missions.
• Enhanced situational awareness and mission coordination capabilities.
• Future integration of additional sensors and communications systems.
• Capability to control drones and manage missiles launched from the aircraft.

The upgraded A400M will be able to coordinate joint operations involving ground forces, helicopters such as the Eurocopter Tiger and Airbus H225M Caracal, and combat aircraft in a collaborative combat environment.

Development work is now underway, with the first French A400M scheduled to receive the new equipment in 2027 and flight testing planned for 2028. Additional aircraft in the French fleet will subsequently be modified to use PMS mission kits.

Airbus is also studying further enhancements for the A400M, including long-range electronic warfare, deployment of drones and missiles from the aircraft in a “mothership” role, an increase in payload capacity to 40 tonnes, and aerial firefighting capabilities.

The programme underscores France’s ambition to turn the A400M into a versatile multi-role platform that combines transport, command-and-control, ISR and future unmanned systems operations in a single aircraft.