Airbus A400M/H225M - A Winning Duo

In the Atlas Mountains of North Africa, small wild cats known as Caracals roam freely. Interestingly, the names Atlas and Caracal can also be observed together in the sky, though for entirely different reasons.

The French Air and Space Force designates the A400M heavy transport aircraft as "Atlas" and the H225M, an 11-tonne helicopter, as "Caracal." Both of these versatile aircraft were developed by Airbus. With the approval of the A400M's in-flight refuelling capability for the French Air Force in early 2025, the two aircraft have achieved full compatibility. The H225M, which is the sole helicopter in the French Armed Forces equipped with in-flight refuelling capabilities, can now fully leverage this collaboration.

The H225M is among the most versatile helicopters globally, engineered for the most challenging missions, including special operations and search and rescue in combat zones. A notable feature is its range, which can surpass 1,000 km under standard conditions. With in-flight refuelling, the H225M can extend its reach further, enabling flights to last over 10 hours. The French Air and Space Force has consistently demonstrated the efficacy of in-flight refuelling in both operational and training scenarios.

Similarly, the A400M has repeatedly proven its capabilities in operations and exercises across every continent with the French Armed Forces, engaging in tasks such as transporting troops and equipment, performing parachute drops, and conducting medical and citizen evacuations. While its list of capabilities is extensive, one remained to be validated until recently. Although the Air and Space Force's A400Ms have been refuelling fighter jets for several years, their capacity to refuel helicopters had not yet been tested by the French Armed Forces. This milestone has now been achieved.

Airbus had previously showcased the A400M's capability to refuel helicopters mid-flight. However, transitioning from an industrial qualification to a military qualification can require several months or even years. For the French Air Force, this process commenced in June 2023 with initial tests conducted by the Air Warfare Centre (Centre d’Expertise Aérien Militaire) and the French Defence Procurement Agency (DGA). Two additional test campaigns were subsequently conducted in February and March 2024.

In early 2025, the capability was considered fully mature, authorising the Air and Space Force to conduct in-flight refuelling of its H225M Caracal helicopters using A400M aircraft during operations. France is set to acquire five helicopter refuelling kits that can be adapted for the A400M. “Giving the A400M this capability was a remarkable achievement,” explains Lieutenant Colonel Nicolas, A400M officer for the French Air and Space Force. “Imagine an aircraft with a maximum weight of 140 tonnes flying close to its stall speed of 110 knots so that it can match a helicopter’s speed.”

According to the Air Force pilot, the A400M's advanced electronic flight controls are pivotal in achieving this capability. Airbus had to enhance the A400M's flight control systems to accommodate this specific flight regime. Additionally, the refuelling pods and handles were specially modified for helicopters. With the A400M and H225M, the French Air and Space Force possesses projection capabilities that are nearly unparalleled globally. This is particularly noteworthy given that the H225M can be loaded onto the A400M and deployed worldwide within hours.

Consequently, the Air Force can swiftly deploy both aircraft for operations deep behind enemy lines, whether for deploying commandos or recovering ejected pilots. These capabilities surpass theoretical predictions, as recently demonstrated during Exercise Athena, held from May 12 to 23, 2025, where the A400M Atlas and H225M Caracal duo were successfully utilised in such an exercise for the first time.