Germany set to reduce A400M order, NATO to lease C-17

Germany set to reduce military Airbus order: report

BERLIN, Nov 22 (AFP) – Germany probably will reduce its order of the planned Airbus A400M military transport aircraft from 73 planes to 60, an official in the ruling Social Democrats (SPD) party said in Friday’s Bild newspaper.

“There are clear signs that we will cut back to 60,” SPD parliamentary group defence expert Rainer Arnold told the newspaper.

Germany’s participation in the Airbus project is critical as its order is the biggest, but it has been delayed by budgetary problems and the general election in September.

The launch of the eight-nation Airbus A400M military transport plane programme is set by year-end.

In Prague on Thursday, German Defence Minister Peter Struck said a decision on the order would be taken in the next few days and that the Germany’s international partners would be informed.

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During the meeting in Prague, NATO also decides to lease 12 C-17 from USAF and 4 C-17 from RAF as an interim solution.