Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what requirements for troops to parachute from the A400M were included in the original specification for that aircraft; whether the A400M has been cleared to deliver that capability; on how many occasions the A400M has delivered that capability; and what assessment she has made of potential technical issues that would prevent the parachuting of troops from the A400M.

The original A400M specification included the requirements to dispatch troops via static line at low and high altitude and freefall from high altitude from both the rear parachute side doors and cargo ramp. Trials have demonstrated that A400M can safely dispatch parachutists via the cargo ramp and using a single side door. At this time that capability has not been used by the UK. Airbus have demonstrated a technical solution to the well-publicised technical challenges of dispatching parachutists simultaneously from both side doors, which is under-going evaluation through the ongoing contracted Airbus development programme.