A document titled “Airbus A400M for Italy” was spotted during recent UK-Italy talks about RAF-ItAF cooperation, adding substance to reports that Rome is considering the European cargo aircraft.
Years after withdrawing from the program that resulted in the A400M, Italy might be looking again at procuring the European military cargo aircraft. A document appeared in photos of recent bilateral talks between the UK and Italy now adds more substance to the rumors.
The Royal Air Force’s Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth, met the Italian Air Force’s Chief of Staff, General Conserva, for “bilateral talks on the strong and continuing UK-Italy air relationship and on opportunities to deepen future cooperation within Air Mobility.” In the photos, a document titled “Airbus A400M for Italy” was clearly visible on the table.
🇬🇧@ChiefofAirStaff Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth, met 🇮🇹General Conserva in Sardinia for bilateral talks on the strong and continuing UK-Italy air relationship and on opportunities to deepen future cooperation within Air Mobility.
@UKDefenceItaly @RoyalAirForce @ItalianAirForce https://t.co/6UUBKOgZth
— UK in Italy 🇬🇧🇮🇹 (@UKinItaly) October 29, 2026
This new development follows a report in June 2026 by the French newspaper La Tribune, which mentioned “the Italian Air Force has a genuine interest in the A400M.” The publication, which did not name its sources, said that Italy “is looking to acquire up to 14 of these aircraft – more likely between eight and ten – to replace its aging fleet of C-130Js.”
Both the document spotted during the bilateral talks and La Tribune’s report are not definitive proof that negotiations are in progress, however they prove that the Italian interest in the A400M is more than just a rumor. So far, however, no official confirmation has been provided.
At the time of writing, no call for tender or procurement contracts can be found on the Italian Ministry of Defense’s and government’s websites. However, the MoD already mentioned in recent years in its multiyear defense planning document that it is moving to replace the C-130J and KC-767 fleets as part of the modernization and renewal of the transport and aerial refueling capabilities.
Interestingly, although it is unlikely to be directly related, in October a German Air Force A400M was deployed to Pisa, home of the Italian C-130J fleet, to train for a week with Italian paratroopers. The exercise was conducted within the framework of the Airborne Community, in cooperation with NATO countries and partners and the European Air Transport Command (EATC).
Additionally, the photos released for the bilateral talks also show that Gen. Conserva and Air Chf Mshl Smyth flew on M-346s jet trainers at Decimomannu Air Base. The jet, which is among the candidates for the replacement of the Hawk T1 and Hawk T2 fleets, is currently used also by Royal Air Force student pilots enrolled in the International Flight Training School (IFTS).
Italy and the A400M
Italy was originally among the countries involved in the European Future Large Aircraft (FLA) initiative, which eventually became the Airbus A400M program. On July 27, 2000, the Italian government joined Belgium, France, Germany, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom in the Farnborough Declaration, announcing its intention to procure aircraft in sufficient numbers to allow the program to proceed.
Italy’s planned acquisition initially stood at 16 aircraft, making it one of the prospective launch customers. However, after a new government took office in 2001, Italy withdrew from the program just before the other partners signed the Memorandum of Understanding in December 2001.
At the time, the Italian Air Force was introducing the C-130J, with the first of 22 C-130Js on order delivered in August 2000. In 1999, the service evaluated its long-term tactical airlift needs and determined that the best solution was a mix of aircraft which included C-130Js, C-130J-30s, and C-27Js
Despite abandoning the development program, Italy did not completely disappear from the A400M’s industrial landscape. In fact, Avio Aero, the Italian aerospace company which later became part of General Electric Aerospace, is responsible for the design and manufacture of the TP400-D6 engine’s Power Gearbox (PGB), a critical component transmitting power from the engine to the propeller.
Looking for the C-130J’s successor
The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules has been the backbone of Italy’s tactical airlift capability for more than 25 years, following the retirement of the older C-130H Hercules. The Italian Air Force initially ordered 18 C-130Js in 1997, followed by two additional aircraft in 1999 and another two in 2000.
The first example arrived at Pisa airport in August 2000, while the delivery of the 22nd and final aircraft was completed in February 2005. The fleet included 12 standard-length C-130Js and ten stretched C-130J-30s, with six of the shorter aircraft equipped for aerial refueling duties as KC-130Js.
Operated by the 46th Air Brigade, the Hercules has since become essential to Italy’s ability to sustain military operations overseas, performing tactical airlift, airdrop, assault landings and medical evacuation missions. Its versatility also extends to humanitarian assistance and specialized medical transportation, including the evacuation of patients requiring biocontainment.
However, as the fleets approaches three decades of service, the Italian Air Force is looking at the C-130J’s successor. In recent years, the procurement of a tactical transport aircraft to replace the C-130J has also been included in the MoD’s Documento Programmatico Pluriennale (multiyear planning document) as part of the modernization of the force projection capabilities.
Among the rumored candidates are the Airbus A400M and the Embraer KC-390, although so far no official announcement has been made. Both platforms would provide a substantial increase in payload, range and operational flexibility compared to the C-130J.
In the meantime, the MoD is pursuing further logistical integrated support arrangements for the existing fleet, including a program covering the 2027-2032 period. Consequently, the C-130J is expected to remain a central component of Italian military air transport for the foreseeable future, giving the Italian Air Force and the MoD more time to select the successor.
