Airbus says it can deliver A400M transport planes to Poland before the SAFE deadline

In brief

• Airbus says it could deliver A400M transport planes to Poland before the end of 2030, ahead of the SAFE deadline.
• Delivery timing depends on when Poland signs a contract; unofficial reports put the order at 8 to 15 aircraft.
• The purchase is being coordinated with Spain and other NATO partners.
• Airbus plans to grow its Polish workforce to 1,500 by the end of the decade.

Earlier delivery possible

Airbus could deliver A400M transport aircraft to Poland before the end of 2030, which is the SAFE program deadline, according to Johan Pelissier, the company's president for Europe (Nowe samoloty dla Polski szybciej niż planowano? Airbus zdradza szczegóły – RMF24) (Nowe samoloty dla wojska mogą dotrzeć szybciej. Szef koncernu potwierdza – wnp.pl) (Polska chce kupić samoloty A400M. Airbus zapowiada szybką dostawę – Bankier.pl). Pelissier said the timing depends on how quickly the Polish government makes a decision. If a contract is signed, he said, the planes could arrive very quickly.

Possible order size

Unofficial information suggests Poland is considering buying between 8 and 15 A400M aircraft. The transports are meant to strengthen both strategic and tactical airlift and allow forces to be moved quickly when needed.

Joint purchases with Spain

The purchase is being prepared together with other EU states, mainly Spain. In June, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz held talks in Madrid on joint orders. In July, Poland also joined a broader group of NATO partners working on the procurement.

Jobs in Poland

Airbus plans to increase its employment in Poland to 1,500 people by the end of the decade. The announcement was made in the same statement that confirmed the faster delivery timeline.