A400M and 'managing the contractor'
for those in this thread that think that you can beat up Airbus about the A400M's failings, it almost ceratinly won't happen.
The UK (& prob European) military aerospace industry exists in a weird 'no man's land' where it works to what look like normal contracts, that stipulate delivery of a certain performance, at specified times and costs. However, even under the best conditions, the performance requirements align with the contractors wishes well in advance. Also the cost and time are entirely negotiable.
The whole military aerospace industry is currenty on the edge of viability, therefore one little nudge, from a contract that goes wrong, or some penalties that need to be paid, could send it off the edge.
Although MOD will try and beat-up the contractor, sitting above the MOD are politicians, the guardians of UK plc, who will ensure that the MOD does not do any real damage to the industry.
I believe that the Chief of Airbus has already said it would be better to 'end the horror' than have 'horror without end'