Lufthansa Technik’s VIP & Special Mission Aircraft Services business unit is to equip two new A321neoLR aircraft to serve various missions for the German Air Force. The aircraft are scheduled to arrive at Lufthansa Technik’s site in Hamburg, Germany, in August and October 2021, and to be redelivered in 2022. The contract was signed with the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw).
Lufthansa Technik will prepare the aircraft for missions ranging from troop transport to medevac. With the appropriate installations, the aircraft can be used in 18 interior configurations. The passenger transport capacity will range from 136-163 passengers. Other possibilities will include transporting up to six intensive care patients, up to 12 slightly or moderately ill/injured patients, and various mixed configurations for patient transport.
Lufthansa Technik’s Original Equipment Innovation business unit will supply the Patient Transport Units (PTUs) required for the medevac role. The contract comprises 12 units, plus two reserve units. Up to six PTUs can be fitted in each of the two A321neoLRs.
The aircraft will be able to be deployed in various highly flexible cabin configurations on short-, medium- and long-haul flights. They will be operated by the Federal Ministry of Defence’s (BMVg) Special Air Mission Wing, which already operates other models in the A320 family. The procurement was approved on 3 July 2020 in the context of the approval of the Second Supplementary Budget 2020.
Image: BAAINBw
