The Royal Air Force has deployed an A400M Atlas to Poland to test operations from grass and other unprepared runways as part of NATO airlift readiness. The aircraft was sent to Powidz for tactical transport training focused on austere-field performance, including movements from temporary surfaces that could support dispersed operations on the alliance’s eastern flank.
The training involved 70 Squadron and Polish Air Force personnel, alongside wider NATO partners engaged in airlift and dispersed-basing preparation. Activities covered low-level flying, grass-runway operations, airdrops and the movement of NATO partner vehicles. The exercise reflects growing attention to survivable logistics and the ability to move heavy loads into contested areas without relying on fully prepared runways.
The A400M Atlas is central to that approach because it combines strategic and tactical airlift roles with the ability to operate from shorter or semi-prepared strips. For military planners, that flexibility broadens the range of locations where transport aircraft can land, load and resupply forces during high-tempo operations.