RAF transport aircraft delay - Times Online, 11 Jan 09
The A400M, a four-engine turbo-prop, has been plagued by delays and cost overruns since its inception, but Friday’s announcement is a serious blow. EADS said it would not now deliver the first aircraft until three years after the maiden flight. No date has yet been set for this, but sources at Airbus say it should take place in September.
So even if the RAF gets the first production aircraft, it won't arrive until Sep 2012.