Which Airbus aircraft is the basis for the BelugaST outsize cargo transporter?

The Airbus A300-600 is the basis for the BelugaST outsize cargo transporter.

The BelugaST, officially the Airbus A300-600ST, was created by heavily modifying the A300-600 wide-body airliner. Airbus replaced much of the upper fuselage with a large bulbous cargo structure, allowing the aircraft to carry oversized components such as wings and fuselage sections between European production sites.

The aircraft’s unusual shape inspired its “Beluga” nickname. Despite the enlarged upper fuselage, it retained the A300-600’s basic wings, engines, and lower fuselage architecture. The first Beluga entered service in 1995, and Airbus operated a fleet for internal logistics.

The BelugaST is distinct from the later BelugaXL, which is based on the A330-200. Both aircraft perform similar transport roles, but they are separate designs from different Airbus wide-body platforms.