Summary
- Luxembourg operates only one Airbus A400M, expanding its Air Component with helicopters and drones.
- The Grand Duchy plans to acquire more aircraft, including an Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport.
- Luxembourg possesses a tiny but modern air force, contributing to the European Air Transport Command and supporting Ukraine.
Ironically, the world’s smallest air force should operate Western Europe’s largest military aircraft. Luxembourg’s armed forces were founded in 1881, and today, they are made up of land units and an air unit – a single Airbus A400M transport aircraft. Luxembourg (officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg) only has a population of around 650,000 and lacks the airports and even airspace to support a large air force. Much of the information about the capabilities and future of the tiny Luxembourg Air Force below is thanks to the informative Orxy blog.
The world’s most modern air force
In 2020, Luxembourg received its first (and only) aircraft in over half a century—a lonely Airbus A400M. This was the first time Luxembourg had military aircraft since 1968, when it retired its three Pipe PA-18 Super Cubs (which had been used for aerial observation). Luxembourg has since expanded its Air Component and added two Airbus H145M helicopters, a few RQ-11 Raven drones, RQ-20 Puma drones, and RQ-21 Integrator drones.
Photo: Mike Browne | Shutterstock
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Luxembourg aircraft: |
Quantity: |
|---|---|
|
Airbus A400M |
1 |
|
Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport |
1 (on order) |
|
Airbus H145 helicopters: |
2 |
|
RQ-11 Ravens: |
12 |
|
RQ-20 Pumas: |
unknown |
|
RQ-21 Integrators: |
4 |
According to the Oryx blog, Luxembourg plans to acquire more aircraft in the future. Luxembourg has also purchased an Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport—possibly jointly with The Netherlands (although this is yet to be delivered). Luxembourg is committed to providing 200 flight hours each year to NATO’s Multinational A330 MRTT Fleet (it later increased its commitment with an extra 1,000 hours) and provided funding for the ninth aircraft.
According to the Luxembourg Army’s website, Luxembourg’s armed forces number just over 1,128 personnel. It recruits and trains 200 people annually. The Luxembourgish Air Component is not an independent service. Luxembourg possesses its own roundel (which is based on Luxembourg’s banner of arms). The same roundel is found on NATO’s fleet of 17 E-3A Sentry AWACS (they are registered in Luxembourg).
Related
Airbus Upgrades Firefighting Capabilities Of The A400M
The new roll-on/roll-off firefighting kit does not require any modification to the aircraft.
The one-man Airbus A400M air force
Luxembourg’s air force was without aircraft for many years until it acquired an Airbus A400M. It is operated by the Belgian 15th Air Transport Wing, which is located in Melsbroek, Belgium (meaning that the Luxembourg Air Component is not even in Luxembourg). The unit operating the Airbus A400M is a Belgian-Luxembourgish binational unit, and the arrangement has been in place since 2020.
Photo: Airbus
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Airbus A400M Atlas |
|
|---|---|
|
Number ordered: |
178 (127 delivered) |
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Roles: |
tactical airlift, strategic airlift, aerial refueling |
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Max range: |
4,800 nautical miles |
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Payload: |
55,100 lbs |
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Power plant: |
4× Europrop TP400-D6 turboprop engines |
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Primary operators: |
Germany, UK, Spain, France |
This has allowed the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to contribute to the operational capacity of the European Air Transport Command (which pools air resources from Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Luxembourg).
As a quirk of statistics, Luxembourg boasts the world’s most modern air arm. The A400M was delivered in 2020 (but ordered in 2001), which means the average age of the air force aircraft is only around 4 years. By comparison, the average age of US Air Force fighter jets is around 28 years old.
Luxembourg has used the aircraft for humanitarian missions and transporting personnel and cargo. It has also used transport for missions to Mali. During the Full-Scale Russian Invasion of Ukraine, Luxembourg has been putting its fledging air force to work flying supplies in support of Ukraine.
Operation of the A400M from Luxembourg’s Findel International Airport is being considered (although the Luxembourg armed forces currently lack their own dedicated airport space).
Luxembourg’s H145M helicopters
Luxembourg purchased two Airbus H145M helicopters for its Armed Forces for surveillance and counterterrorism missions. They bear Gand Ducal Police markings. The country also plans to acquire larger helicopters that would provide some sort of tactical airlift capability in the future.
Photo: Airbus
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Airbus H145M helicopter |
|
|---|---|
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Number built: |
1,600+ |
|
First flight: |
1999 |
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Crew: |
2 |
|
Powerplant: |
2× Turbomeca Arriel 1E2 turboshaft engines |
|
US Army variants: |
UH-72A and UH-72B Lakota |
The H145M is a twin-engine light utility helicopter designed for a range of tactical battlefield missions (including delivering troops and materials and providing some level of firepower). It is a versatile and rugged helicopter that has also found civil use for law enforcement agencies. They are built by Airbus’ sizable helicopter division. In the United States, the US Army operates the UH-72A and UH-72B Lakota variants.
Related
A Look At The Airbus A330 MRTT: The Military Version Of The A330-200
The aircraft has three main functionalities.
Luxembourg’s drone force
The area were Luxembourg has flying machines in any number is in drones (aka unmanned aerial systems). This drone fleet is larger than that of some other countries in Europe. It operates Ravens, Pumas, Integrators, and the tiny hand-held Atlas Pros. As part of the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance Fleet, Luxembourg also has a hand in flying five RQ-4D Phoenix HALE drones.
Photo: USAF
Luxembourg may operate larger drones in the future (possibly the MQ-9B SkyGuardian or the Israeli Elbit Hermes 900. Finally, Luxembourg has a government-owned communications satellite – the GovSat-1 launched in 2018).