Showing posts with label 2013. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2013. Show all posts

Europe Agrees To Give A400M Project One More Chance.

At last, after much dithering, leading European governments have agreed to inject a life-saving dose of billions of euros into the veins of the A400M project, thus enabling it to deliver long range military aircraft, and France will get its first plane in 2013.

This project was launched in 2003 and has a long history of delays and cost overrun. There were rumours that EADS, a large Pan-European aerospace corporation, would have to scrap the entire project, and European governments would instead be looking for alternatives. However, the governments have made a prudent decision, though delayed, to cover the shortfall in the fund and continue the project.



According to the new understanding, seven launch customers - UK, France, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain and Turkey - have agreed to reduce the total number of aircraft, and they will accept 170 instead of the initially planned number of 180. It is supposed to replace ageing C130 Hercules and C160 Transall planes.


The Airbus A400M is a long-range and intermediate sized aircraft, designed as a tactical airlifter with strategic capabilities. It is designed for cargo and troop transport, medical evacuation, aerial refueling and electronic surveillance. It can also be used on short and soft landing strips.



The new deal among European governments to finance the aircraft is nothing less than a blessing for the manufacturer, Airbus, and its parent company EADS. The project has been prey to at least a 5 billion euro cost overrun, and delivery of planes is already running four years later than the initial release date. In the latest agreement, reached in November, European governments agreed to a price increase per plane of 11m euros, and 1.5bn euros of credits against future exports. EADS will cover the rest of the shortfall itself.

This project will help to keep 1,000 aerospace engineers in work and will increase the effectiveness of European military might. Also, this agreement will help save the European aerospace industry from lagging behind that of the US. It would have made Europe dependent on the US for this technology if European leaders had decided otherwise. Design and features of the A400M make it highly likely that other countries will express interest in purchasing this aircraft, and the latest agreement will be seen as a milestone in the history of European aerospace industry.