DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: French Army Expects First A400M Airlifter By July 14
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - May 18, 2013: The French army hopes to receive its first Airbus A400M military transport aircraft in time for the country's annual Bastille Day celebrations on July 14, a Defence Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.
The aircraft, which is about five years behind the original schedule, is also expected to win certification for military use in time for the biennial Paris Air Show starting on June 17, Pierre Bayle said.
The head of EADS unit Airbus Military, Domingo Urena-Raso, confirmed that this timetable was "absolutely reasonable," adding that he expected a total of four deliveries this year, 10 next year and 21 the following year.
France will be the first of the seven nations behind the 20 billion euro ($25.7 billion) project to take delivery of the European military transport and heavy cargo plane. Germany is due to receive its first A400M at the end of 2014.
France has ordered 50 of the planes, and Germany 53. The other countries involved are Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Turkey and Britain.
"Delivery before July 14 would enable a French crew to pilot the French plane above the parade," Bayle said, referring to the traditional Bastille Day military procession.
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