Tuesday 10 March, in Munich (Germany), Chairman of EADS, Louis Gallois, who presented the results in 2008, announced that the group would spend 704 million euros of provisions in its accounts, in addition to 2.1 billion euros already provided, to take account of significant delays in the development of this program.
But the final impact of the setbacks of this program of 20 billion euro, launched in 2003, is yet impossible to calculate, say the leaders of EADS. Everything will depend on the outcome of negotiations with client countries: Germany, France, Spain, United Kingdom, Belgium, Luxembourg and Turkey.
A complex device. The A400M is capable of providing transport missions to both civil and military flying at high altitude, high speed and can land or take off on very short fields.
The program delays. The first flight of this aircraft was originally scheduled for 2008. It was delayed last year due to the complexity of the program and difficulties. No new date has been given. Only accurate to the first deliveries will take three years after the first flight of the aircraft.
The project, signed in 2003, was ill-conceived financially. It was built as a commercial civilian, with a fixed price of EUR 20 billion for 180 aircraft. However, in all defense programs prices are reviewed periodically because of the slippage associated with the use of new technologies or sophisticated equipment.
On the technological front, the Europeans have decided to make their own engine propeller (four turboprop over 10 000 horses each) rather than buying those of the American Pratt & Whitney. This choice was motivated by political considerations: to regain a technological Europe, the latest engines of this type have been made in the 1960s.
Another difficulty, not tasked to a manufacturer, who was leader of a group, but to a consortium where each performs a part of the engine: it includes the French Snecma, Britain's Rolls-Royce ITP Spanish and German MTU. Today, it has problems with the regulator to drive the propellers. Once they are resolved, the date of first flight will be stopped and a fixed timetable.
Client countries are furious. Buyers of the 180 aircraft that are the seven countries (Germany, France, Spain, United Kingdom, Belgium, Luxembourg, Turkey), grouped in the Organization for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), are furious. London is even threatening to cancel their orders and Berlin lobbied for EADS commitments are respected.
Monday, Hervé Morin, announcing that it meet its six European counterparts in Prague, said that it found "a set that would allow us to continue together."
The seven countries have the option, from 1 April, to denounce the contracts. Such a withdrawal would cost 5.7 billion euros in EADS, the amount of advances received and would have to be repaid.
This possibility seems ruled out because it would require a unanimous decision. However, it is difficult to imagine Spain, where the A400M is assembled (in Seville), decide to close the assembly line. Over Berlin and Paris have expressed their desire to complete this program. Countries can, however, separately, demanding the cancellation of all the devices on a case by case basis.
Louis Gallois not expected to "off discussions." They focus on defining a precise timetable of deliveries, the specifications for the aircraft, but also on the updating of certain costs and also on penalties.
The urgency of a solution is even bigger than some European armies, such as France and Britain, need to replace their jets out of breath. And Boeing have begun to remind customers of the country A400M qualities of its transport aircraft the C17.
0 comments:
Post a Comment