MADRID, July 31 (UPI) -- Airbus Military's A400M airlifter has received Type Acceptance at the contractual Initial Operating Clearance (IOC) Standard from OCCAR.
OCCAR is a European Union organization for joint armament cooperation and operates on behalf of Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Turkey and Britain.
Airbus called the OCCAR certification an "historic" milestone in the A400M program.
"This first military standard acceptance is the last step prior to the aircraft acceptance of MSN7, the first serial aircraft, by the French Defense Procurement Agency, DGA, and its subsequent delivery to the French Air Force in the coming days," Airbus Military said.
The A400M is a new military transport aircraft with a full cargo (20-30 tons) range of more than 2,000 miles. More than 170 of the planes are on order from a variety of countries.
Airbus Military said with high-maneuverability and a cargo hold capable of handling outsized equipment and capability to land on rough, short airfields, the A400M is ideal for tactical as well as strategic lift missions.
