How Europe’s A400M airlifter failed to take off | Aviation International News

How Europe’s A400M airlifter failed to take off

Six years ago, the team from Airbus Military promoting the A400M came to the Paris Air Show full of confidence and good intentions.

By Chris Pocock • Defense Correspondent

June 13, 2009

Six years ago, the team from Airbus Military promoting the A400M came to the Paris Air Show full of confidence and good intentions. Germany had just confirmed its order for 60, finally launching the program after years of negotiations. Italy and Portugal dropped out, leaving a total requirement of 180 aircraft for six European countries (seven, if you count Luxembourg taking one aircraft). The combined development and production (D&P) contract was signed at the end of May 2003, and was worth ?20 billion (in 1998 prices). At the stroke of a pen, this doubled the EADS defense order book.

In the preceding years, Airbus had been preaching a mantra that Europe’s new airlifter could be developed and delivered according to commercial principles–just like the airliners that rolled daily from the hangars at Hamburg and Toulouse. In reality, the strategy of a truly commercial development had already foundered.

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