At the beginning of this month, the French Equipe de Marque Avion de Transport Tactique (Test and Evaluation Squadron for Tactical Airlift – EMATT) has started another stage of the cold weather test operation programme for the Airbus A400M Atlas airlifter. Within the second part of the experiment, the aircraft successfully completed its first deployment beyond the Polar Circle.
The ´cold weather experiment´, led by EMATT under the direct supervision of Centre d’expertise aérienne militaire (the Military Air Experiment Centre – CEAM), began in January of 2025. During the initial stage of the operation, the first time in history of the A400M service with Armée de l’air et de l’espace (the French Air and Space Force), one of those tactical airlifters was deployed to a remote and rough airfield in Canada (more information about the first stage of the programme can be found in our article – Cold weather experiment – Airbus A400M Atlas).
Next, the cold weather experiment was continued in Europe, beyond the 66th north parallel. Supporting the delivery of commando group from Groupe militaire de haute montagne (the high mountain military group – GMHM), which took part in the exercise Uppick 25, the French A400M from the 123rd airbase (Base Aérienne 123) in Orléans-Bricy, was successfully deployed beyond the Polar Circle. Similarly to the Canadian mission, the second stage of the cold weather operation programme was led by Lieutenant-Colonel François-Xavier.
´The first phase in Canada was essentially an exploration. Today, our deployment beyond the Polar Circle is the second stage of the experiment. We landed on less used frozen runways than in Canada, and in an even more extreme environment, with snow walls nearly two metres high on either side of the runway. Ground temperatures reached -35 degrees Celsius. During the cruise flight, we have also reached the minimum temperatures certified for the A400M (-74 degrees Celsius). Personally, I had never been confronted with such situation during a mission before,´ said François-Xavier.
Just like in Canada, the local environment and condition of the runway were at first examined by combat engineers from 25e régiment du génie de l’air (the 25th Air Engineer Regiment). The engineering team was deployed to the location (which so far was not exactly disclosed) in December of 2024.
´We had to make sure that the snow-covered runways were able to accommodate the aircraft, under the necessary safety conditions,´ explains Commander Michael, Deputy Head of Operations and Instruction Office of the 25th Regiment. ´During such a mission, we can note several challenges: the cold, the amount of snow, which can slow the manoeuvre, or wildlife – the polar bears are very present in the area. We had to be armed during any shift.´
On 9th March 2025, the A400M left Orleans, carrying eleven GMHM commandos on board. Since then, for the next twenty-four days, the mountain combat specialists participate in Uppick 25 exercise – a 120-150 kilometres raid in an inhospitable environment.
´Within this mission, during which we will sleep in a tent, we will have different types of activities: ski trip, ice cascade climb, crossing manoeuvre. The aim of this training is not to learn how to survive, but rather to learn to live in extreme conditions,´ explains Commander François, the head of the deployment.
The second stage of the A400M cold weather experiment will be carried out until the beginning of April 2025.
All photos © French Ministry of Defence. Information from the press releases of the French Ministry of Defence – published on the MoD page in January of 2025 – were used, in accordance to the etalab-2.0 licence.
