EIGHT NATIONS SIGN UP FOR 18 BILLION EURO A400M AIRLIFTER CONTRACT

In a landmark event in the history of defence procurement, eight European nations committed today to purchase a total of 196 Airbus Military A400M transport aircraft.

The final contract was signed in Brussels between Airbus Military SAS and OCCAR, (Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en Matière d’Armement), representing the customer nations. Worth some 18 billion Euros, the A400M contract is the biggest yet handled through this organisation and the most far-reaching in terms of the number of nations participating.

The single procurement contract for all 196 aircraft was signed by Dr. Klaus von Sperber, Director of OCCAR Executive Agency, on behalf of the launch customer nations, (Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom), and Alberto Fernandez, Chief Executive Officer of Airbus Military.

The signature ceremony took place in an extra-ordinary session during a scheduled meeting of European NATO Defence Ministers, in the company of senior executives from the industrial participants.

“This is the day we have all been waiting for,” said Alberto Fernandez. “We have watched the steady progress towards the final goal with satisfaction and all concerned should feel a sense of personal pride in this great achievement. We are witnessing today the birth of what will become a formidable new military airlifter, the fruit of a close partnership between European air forces and aircraft manufacturers. The A400M marks the beginning of a new era in military air transport capability.”

Noel Forgeard, Airbus Chief Executive Officer, also expressed his satisfaction at seeing the A400M contract completed. “The A400M programme is a significant addition to the ever-increasing range of Airbus activities and one which will have far-reaching consequences for the European defence and aeronautical industries,” he said. “As the principal shareholder in the A400M programme, it is very satisfying for Airbus to be able to witness yet another success in innovative international cooperation”.

The contract signed today will become effective upon formal notification from OCCAR and provides for the following numbers of aircraft to be delivered to the launch customers’ air forces: Belgium, 7; France, 50; Germany, 73; Luxembourg, 1; Portugal, 3; Spain, 27; Turkey, 10; United Kingdom, 25. The first aircraft is due to fly in 2006 and the first customer deliveries are planned from 2008.

The A400M will replace ageing fleets of C-130 Hercules and C-160 Transall aircraft. The A400M will provide the rapid reaction capability that is so important in responding to crisis situations. With it’s high cruise speed, intercontinental range and voluminous cargo hold, it will significantly increase the load-carrying capacity of the aircraft it will replace, whilst retaining their essential tactical, short and soft field operating characteristics.

The A400M will be built to meet the demanding requirement specified by the participating European nations that will enable them to better fulfil their increasing peacekeeping and humanitarian responsibilities in support of NATO and the United Nations. As demonstrated by the recent rigorous competitive process in Europe, the A400M’s impressive strategic and tactical qualities, at an affordable cost, will make it the most attractive airlifter in its category for air forces around the world.