Spanish Air Force plans A400M fleet upgrade with Airbus firefighting kits

The Spanish Air and Space Force is preparing to equip part of its Airbus A400M fleet with roll-on/roll-off (RORO) firefighting kits developed by Airbus Defence and Space, according to recent test and program updates from the manufacturer. The move would allow Spain to convert standard tactical transport aircraft into large-capacity water bombers at short notice, without structural modifications.Airbus has carried out multiple flight test campaigns in Spain with the prototype kit, including drops of up to 20,000 liters of water or retardant from an A400M over test ranges such as El Cubillo de Uceda. The system houses the liquid in a tank installed in the cargo hold and uses doors to release a single, high-volume discharge, producing concentrated retardant lines more than 400 meters long on the ground.