RAF Atlas operations in Antarctica
March 16, 2025
Between 13 and 15 February, the Royal Air Force carried out Operation ‘Austral Endurance’, supporting forward operations by the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). An Airbus A400M Atlas flew a series of reconnaissance missions over Union Glacier in Antarctica from Punta Arenas, Chile, supported by an A330 MRTT Voyager KC.Mk 3 refuelling aircraft deployed from the Falkland Islands. The A400M (ZM421) arrived at Punta Arenas on 13 February, using the Chilean airfield as a staging post for a reconnaissance of the runway at Union Glacier in Antarctica.
Union Glacier is sometimes considered to be a gateway to the Antarctic continent, and has a blue ice runway capable of supporting operations by large aircraft, operated by Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions LLC (ALE), which supports extreme tourism and private expeditions to the South Pole. Chile has a Joint Scientific Polar Station Glaciar Unión, operated by the Chilean Antarctic Institute (INACH) and the Chilean Armed Forces.
The Voyager conducted air-to-air refuelling along the 70th parallel south, enabling one of the RAF’s southernmost missions in recent years, with the A400M operating beyond the 79th parallel south.
During the previous Operation ‘Austral Endurance 2023’, an A400M conducted airdrops over the ‘Sky Blu’ forward operating station in southern Palmer Land at 75° south. Some 300 fuel drums were delivered in three air drops.
