London had threatened to do so, Pretoria is passed to the Act: the South Africa yesterday announced the cancellation of its order of eight A400M, making its decision on the account of the flight of the unit cost of the European military transport plane, leaded by at least three years behind. "The escalation of costs would have placed an unbearable burden on taxpayers at a time when the State budget is already under pressure because of the global crisis," said a spokesman for the Government, quoted by the AFP. Invoice would be increased from EUR 837 million end of 2004 to 3.5 billion now, even if these figures are not comparable.
In response, EADS simply declared himself "surprised" by the South African decision, in the meantime to fully analyze the financial consequences. Cancellation of the order is yet well. First because it comes in a few weeks of the first flight of the A400M. First copy of the aircraft is currently undergoing final production in Seville teams testing and should be under the responsibility of those tests in flight shortly, a sign that technical problems are now largely resolved.
On the other hand, the withdrawal of the South Africa leaves the program with a single client to export for now, the Malaysia, whereas EADS and Airbus proclaim loud and clear that the commercial life of the aircraft is promised to a great success. The A400M has 184 commands now officially (see opposite). Finally, the decision of Pretoria comes the financial side of the renegotiation of the contract patina since a few weeks.
Tight negotiations
Together this summer at le Castellet, Var, the Ministers of defence of European customers for the A400M were given until the end of the year for the program on track. The more hard to share the unavoidable additional costs caused by delays. Las, the German administration is pull the ear lately, to the point that a new moratorium is not excluded ("Les Echos" from October 28). Simple resistance linked to elections, German or refusal of a rise in the price The Defence Minister, Hervé Morin, will try to learn more the week next with his new counterpart, Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg.
By agreeing to pay the same amount but for six aircraft less than the 25 planned, the United Kingdom has confirmed its commitment dans program, at the cost of an increase in the cost of the A400M of 31 (and 25, if one includes the development). Except that can be trusted to the armies of her gracious Majesty to lower the invoice. The South Africa, on the contrary, decided to throw the sponge. Opposition to the Government, through the Party of the Democratic Alliance, campaigned for several weeks in this sense, denouncing in addition to the wrongdoing in the awarding of the contract in 2004.
At the time, the industrial relations between Airbus and the South Africa may cool. The aviation industry of the country participates in the A320 program, including. And industrial compensation requested by Pretoria in exchange for the purchase of eight A400M carried 80, according to our information. The output of contract negotiations to announce tight.
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