Atlas aircraft maintenance repair and overhaul facility completed

The MoD has announced the completion of a three bay hangar for in-depth maintenance of the RAFs new transport aircraft, Atlas.

The work was outsourced by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) to Balfour Beatty at a cost of £42 million. The RAF will operate 22 A400M Atlas aircraft, replacing the versatile C130 Hercules, in support of the deployment of the Joint Rapid Reaction Force. The tactical and strategic airlift aircraft will enable the RAF to support all three services and be interoperable, whilst having the ability to operate from short, unprepared landing strips and also performing at both low level (150 feet (ft) above ground level) and high altitude (up to 40,000ft); ensuring the deployment of conventional and high readiness forces and equipment directly into the operational area.

Since coming into service in March 2015, the A400M has provided mission support by flying operational cargo to RAF Akrotiri. The 45 metre long aircraft can carry 25 tonnes of cargo for more than 2,000 nautical miles and has a wingspan of nearly 42.5 metres.

The hangar can house three A400M Atlas aircraft as well as the C17 Globemaster and the A330 Voyager when static. At 28 metres high, the hangar covers 24,000 metres squared (m2) and used 3,200 tonnes of steel to construct. The roof houses 600m2 solar panels to provide up to 70 kilowatts of electrical power.

The finished structure includes three separate bays to hold three individual aircraft, a ground equipment store, engine and tyre bays and a three storey office and amenities block.

Denis Williams, DIO Project Manager, said: “The A400M Atlas will be the mainstay of the RAF’s air transport fleet so this hangar is a vital facility which will enable the aircraft to be maintained and repaired. I’m delighted to mark the completion of DIO’s role in this pan-defence project.”