A400M: Airbus delivery to Bundeswehr delayed for years

The production of the A400M is dragging its way, and Airbus has also reported new defects in a report. The Bundeswehr could soon be standing without a flight van.

A400M: Airbus delivery to Bundeswehr delayed for years

The delivery of A400M Atlas aircraft to Bundeswehr will take six years longer than previously planned. A memorandum of agreement with Airbus in early February foresees delivery of outstanding A400M over a longer period of time. The last of 53 aircraft would refore only be handed over to 2026, reports German press Agency and invokes defence ministry. So far, 2020 was planned. Previously, Mirror had reported delay.

The Bundeswehr has received 16 of 53 ordered military vans so far. In addition to Germany, also Spain, Malaysia, Great Britain, France and Turkey have ordered military transporters of type A400M.

The memorandum of understanding for remainder of order is to be followed by a legally binding agreement of group with seven partner countries, including NATO countries Germany, France, Great Britain and Turkey. It aims to "limit economic risk for Airbus", as group said. A group spokesman did not want to comment on details of new timetable at first. According to a spokesman, Silence was agreed.

Apparently security warning due to new defects

For years, A400M programme has been suffering from problems and delays. Now, due to new defects in suspension of engines, Airbus should have sent a safety warning to buyers ' nations, mirror report says. Thus, in addition to corrosion, cracks have now been detected in wings of already delivered transport fliers.

Only recently, Airbus had agreed with buyer states to significantly curb production of aircraft. According to Mirror, company is trying to gain time to solve technical problems and to directly apply changes in production of new machines.

The federal defense had recently challenged military operational capability of A400M. At that time, an armaments report that attested Selbstschutzssystem of aircraft was limited to function. This system deflects flying missiles. According to armaments report, Bundeswehr could stand after 2021, when last old Transall aircraft were put out of service without fully functional military vans.

Date Of Update: 17 February 2018, 12:03
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