Germany Weighs ‘Slight’ Reduction in A400M Orders
March 30 (Bloomberg) -- Germany may make a “slight” cut in its order of 60 A400M military transporters and take delivery of the planes without their ability to perform automated low- flight maneuvers, a defense ministry official said.
The seven partner nations that ordered the plane agreed with European Aeronautic, Defence & Space Co. to cut their combined order by as many as 10 planes from a total of 180. The U.K. defense ministry said yesterday that it will cut its order of 25 planes to as few as 22. France intends to stick with its order for 50 planes, French defense ministry spokesman Laurent Teisseire said today by telephone.
France expects to get its first A400M in 2013 and receive 35 by 2020, with the remaining 15 coming by 2024, Teisseire said. Germany will get its first A400M in 2014, with the U.K., the third-largest customer, getting the first one in 2015. Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg and Turkey, will follow.