The German Air Force took delivery of its second Airbus A321LR aircraft from Lufthansa Technik. The aircraft will be used for troop transport and parliamentary flight operations before being returned in the next year for modifications to enable it to carry out medical evacuation missions as well.
According to a statement from Lufthansa Technik, the new German Air Force Airbus A321LR (long range, e.d.-) aircraft, with tactical registration 15+11, arrived at Cologne-Bonn airport (CGN) in Germany on August 17, 2022. It is the second aircraft of the type which will serve the Air Force on both short and long-haul operations. The first A321LR, the 15+10, joined the military fleet in June 2022. The two aircraft can each carry 136 passengers when used for transporting troops or politicians.
However, there are more missions in store for the new A321LR aircraft. During the next 12 months both planes will be handed back to Hamburg-based Lufthansa Technik, where they will undergo an intensive testing and modification process to make them suitable for medical evacuation missions, such as transportation of wounded, injured and diseased troops or other government servants.
Once the modifications are made, the planes will be capable of flying six patients who needs intensive medical care or up to twelve mildly or moderately injured people.
Some modifications to the narrow-body aircraft have already been completed. “The company was able to complete various preliminary work for the MedEvac mission, for example for the oxygen supply on board the two aircraft, already during the first phase of the project,” the MRO company’s statement reads.