In a significant development for German aviation, Lufthansa Technik has officially handed over the last Airbus A350 to the German Air Force, marking a pivotal moment at the ILA Berlin Air Show. The aircraft, registered as 10+03, joins the Special Air Mission Wing, ready to transport German government officials, thereby enhancing the operational capabilities of the German Air Force.
The Airbus A350, a key asset in the fleet of Europe’s major military contractor, Airbus, is set to replace the aging Airbus A340s. This transition represents a strategic upgrade in the government’s long-haul transportation facilities. Notably, the A350s are earmarked for German political and parliamentary VIPs, replacing the two older A340s that the Air Force has been operating.
The aircraft have been named thoughtfully, with the registration 10+01 dubbed “Konrad Adenauer,” 10+02 as “Theodor Heuss,” and 10+03 as “Kurt Schumacher.” Interestingly, this marks a unique moment for the aircraft registered as 10+03, as it was quickly deployed into service a few years ago, only a few months after the decision to acquire the A350s was made. Initially equipped with an interim cabin setup by Lufthansa Technik, it was later upgraded to a permanent custom cabin configuration after the other two aircraft were completed.
According to Soeren Stark, Chief Executive Officer of Lufthansa Technik AG, this extensive refurbishment effort can be seen as “the largest modernization programme in the history of the Special Air Mission Wing.” He further noted that accomplishing four cabin modifications across three wide-body jets within four years, amid the challenges posed by the pandemic, was a Herculean task.
The A350 model, which began production in 2013 following the cessation of the four-engine A340 in 2011, is currently Airbus’s largest passenger aircraft. This comes after the recent phase-out of the A380, with the final unit delivered in early 2022. In a separate but related development, Airbus has also introduced a loyal wingman drone concept for the German Air Force, signaling ongoing innovations in military aviation technology.
This transition to the A350 reflects a broader trend in aviation where efficiency, advanced technology, and improved capabilities define the new era of governmental air transport.