A400M future threatened as aircrafts gets costlier
12 Jan 2010 8ak: The long delayed £18billion Airbus project for developing its first military transport aircraft A400M is in troubled waters again after partner nations have threatened a pull out due to escalating cost and delays. Triggering fresh talks of pull out was the announcement of the manufacturer proposing a 20% price hike in the unit cost of the aircraft, which is US$161million as of now. The manufacturers say that such a move will land the entire project in jeopardy as they will have to consider scrapping the entire project all together.
Earlier, South Africa had cancelled its orders for the A400M after constant delays. The delays had forced U.K. to lease and subsequently buy six C-17s. French and German officials have also been considering their next move and have given an undisclosed time-frame to Airbus to prove the mega projects viability. However, the silver lining in the cloud came after the successful maiden flight of the A400M in December 2009. But, it seems that the progress has been undone due to escalating costs.
The threats of cancelling orders are not just empty statements considering that the NATO nations have ordered 117 A400Ms and as these NATO nations increase their participation in peace keeping missions their requirement of transport aircraft is bound to go up. Hence to avert the short fall, these nations are mulling to buy the C-17s and C-130Js from US, which are in production and have proven operational capability.
As a short-term measure, the NATO has leased Russian AN-124, capable of carrying 130 tons of cargo and bought C-17, which carries 84 tons in comparison to A400Ms 40 tons. The A400M has a top speed of 779 kilometres per hour and a range of 7,500 kilometres. The aircraft is able to fly as high as 40,000 feet, and is capable of low-altitude manoeuvres as well as landings on short, unprepared runways. It also doubles as an in-air refuelling vehicle and is capable of carrying two attack helicopters or 116 soldiers.
The military aircraft is powered by Europrop International’s TP400D turboprop engine. The project was launched by Airbus in 2003 with seven European governments ordering 180 jets including UK.
Link: http://www.aviation-news.co.uk/media/airbus_a400m.jpg
Well, win some lose some. Airbus might lose this to Lockheed's and Boeings gain.
Posted by: Jason Verdugo | 13 January 2010 at 10:41 PM