The A400M Atlas is better at operating from improvised runways than most NATO cargo planes because of its turboprop engines, which are less vulnerable to ground debris.

A Royal Air Force A400M Atlas transport aircraft landed on an unusual Polish airfield earlier in the week as NATO tests its military airlift capabilities in the face of increased tensions with Russia.

The A400M is a large cargo plane, and is accustomed to operating from long, paved runways. The Polish airfield was long, but—in a radical break from tradition—was made of grass, rather than a harder surface. Even so, the aircraft landed without incident, and was able to safely operate afterwards.

The A400M Atlas’ Specifications  

• Year Introduced: 2009 
• Number Built: ~130; orders for 178 aircraft 
• Length: 148 ft (45 m)  
• Wingspan: 139 ft (42 m) 
• Weight: 310,850 lbs (141,000 kg) 
• Engines: Four Europrop TP400-D6 engines 
• Top Speed: Mach 0.72 (552 mph, 890 km/h) 
• Range: 2,050 mi (3,300 km) 
• Service Ceiling: Up to 40,000 ft (12,192 m)
• Loadout:  81,600 lbs (37,000 kg, 37 tonnes), including the ability to carry CH-47 Chinook helicopters, mechanized vehicles, or 116 fully equipped paratroopers
• Aircrew: 3–4 (two pilots and one to two loadmasters) 

Why the Royal Air Force Practices Landing on Grass

Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian aircraft and unmanned aerial systems have repeatedly violated NATO sovereignty, entering the airspace over Poland, Germany, Lithuania, Romania, and Latvia. The Russian leadership has repeatedly threatened NATO with war over its material support for Ukraine in the conflict and its activity in the Arctic.

As part of preparations for a possible conflict, the Royal Air Force’s Air Mobility Force deployed an A400M transport aircraft to Poland. 

Built by European aerospace giant Airbus, the A400M is a military transport aircraft that can support airlift, airborne, humanitarian aid, and medevac operations. The British aircraft worked with the Polish Air Force in tactical low-level flying, temporary runway take-offs and landings, air drops, and airlift operations.  

“The A400M continues to prove its worth. By providing the RAF, UK Defence and NATO with the agility to airlift the wide variety of large vehicles, supplies and troops of the alliance to challenging locations, it remains a key cornerstone of the Air Mobility Force in helping the UK protect the homeland and secure NATO territories,” Wing Commander Doug Grove, the commanding officer of 70 Squadron, said in a media release.  

Why “Soft” Runways Are Dangerous for Military Aircraft

Most aircraft runways around the world are made of hard concrete. “Soft” runways—including improvised runways like strips of grass or sand, as well as regular runways covered in ice or snow—are hazardous because their surfaces reduce braking efficiency, increase stopping distances, and typically create unpredictable terrain for pilots. All of these are daunting challenges to any pilot.

For military aircraft, the problem is compounded by large engines; on unconventional runways such as fields and beaches, the danger of a rock or a branch being thrown up and into an engine is ever-present. 

However, the A400M’s engines are better prepared to deal with such situations. The Atlas uses turboprop engines rather than jets, which are better at dealing with foreign debris (though not immune to it). And the Atlas aircraft’s turboprop engines are specifically designed to better protect against foreign objects; Airbus claims the A400M can land on short, unpaved, or soft surfaces like sand, gravel, or grass, requiring less than 2,460 feet (750 meters) of runway.  

“Giving our crews the chance to practise unprepared runway operations ensures the RAF remains ready to fly and fight. Seamless interoperability with our NATO partners is of particular importance to reinforcing the cohesion of the Alliance and a great deal of mutual learning has taken place with our Polish friends,” Grove added. 

While the dangers of improvised runways are ever-present, the ability to land on them anyway is a vital skill during combat. In the event of a war with Russia or China, air bases will be a primary target in the opening salvos and during follow-on strikes. While militaries have units and systems in place to quickly repair runways, a damaged air base can cost dearly on the field.

For example, if NATO launches an airborne operation against a high-value target in Russia and the Russian military targets the airbases supporting the operation with missiles and one-way attack unmanned aerial systems, the paratroopers on the ground could be cut off from their vital resupply lines. So the ability for aircraft of all types to be able to operate from unconventional runways is vital.

About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou   

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University, an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and a JD from Boston College Law School. His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP. 

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