Aircraft
German Defense Cuts Force Renegotiation with EADS
Budget cuts to the German Armed Forces will force the renegotiation of contracts with two divisions of EADS.
Germany is cutting half of its order for 80 Tiger helicopters in a defense review. (Photo: Chris Pocock)
Germany is cutting half of its order for 80 Tiger helicopters in a defense review. (Photo: Chris Pocock)

Budget cuts to the German Armed Forces will force the renegotiation of contracts with two divisions of EADS for the A400M transport, and for NH90 and Tiger helicopters. Germany’s overall 20-percent reduction in defense spending includes the closure of one Tornado fighter-bomber wing, two Transall airlift wings, one transport helicopter regiment, one combat helicopter wing and a naval aviation unit.

The German Air Force now requires only 40 A400Ms. It had already reduced the originally planned buy of 60 to 53 during the difficult multinational renegotiation of 2009 to 2010 with Airbus Military.