Representatives of the seven European launch customer nations met with the Organisation Conjointe de Cooperation en Matiere d'Armement (OCCAR) in Toulouse, France, on November 5 to approve a draft amendment to the deal signed on March 31 (see A400M Deal Finning Up, April, p4) for the Airbus Military A400M programme. OCCAR is the management agency for the troubled transport programme. Germany, France, Spain, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Luxembourg and Turkey produced the draft, which outlines new contractual terms, redefines some technical requirements and outlines a new delivery schedule for the A400M. It also addresses the vexed problem of covering the additional costs incurred by EADS developing the aircraft. The seven countries will pay an extra €3.5 billion, with unit prices rising by €11 million -and all the penalties due to be paid to the customer nations for late delivery have been waived. EADS will also take a €1.8 billion charge in its 2009 accounts. Each country must ratify the new agreement before it becomes effective.
展开▼
