France plans to modify 20 Airbus A400M Atlas transport aircraft into launch platforms for cruise missiles, drones and guided munitions. The French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) has awarded a contract to Airbus to develop a Payload Management System (PMS) for the aircraft, with initial tests and operational certification targeted for the end of 2028. Each A400M could carry up to 12 Taurus‑class cruise missiles or about 50 combat and reconnaissance drones, leveraging its roughly 9,000‑km range for long‑distance missions and integration with fighters and ground forces. France currently operates 21 A400M aircraft and intends to equip 20 of them for this new role, ordering six PMS kits in the first phase.