Abandoning the A400M programme means losing European sovereignty
L'Airbus militaire A400M sur le ‘chemin critique’ de l'Europe de la défense
07:27 GMT, February 19, 2009 On 10 February 2009 the French Senate unveiled a report entitled “L'Airbus militaire A400M sur le ‘chemin critique’ de l'Europe de la défense” – “The A400M Military Airbus on the critical path for European defense,” which was jointly prepared by the Senate’s foreign affairs and finance committees.
For the first time, an official report reveals that the A400M is facing significantly greater technical problems and delays than have previously been disclosed.
The report notes that the delivery of the Full Authority Digital Engine Controls (FADEC) for its EPI TP400-D6 turboprop engines is now scheduled for October 2009, two years later than the original plan. Nearly identical delays are also expected for the navigation systems, Flight Management System (FMS) built by Thales, the GPS Air Data Inertial Reference System (GADIRS) built by Sagem, as well as the Terrain-Reference Navigation System (TRN) and the Terrain Masking Low Level Flight system (TM-LLF), both built by EADS Military Air Systems.
The first flight is expected to be delayed by about two years. Due to these delays, the delivery of the first A400M will not take place before late 2012, the report predicts.
Constrictions
Further, it is anticipated that the first aircraft to be delivered will have a number of constrictions: According to the report, the aircraft will be 12 tonnes heavier than originally designed, which could affect the planned payload of 37 tonnes. The report also said that the first A400M aircraft would have a reduced speed, not allowing the aircraft to operate in more sophisticated flight modes. Scheduled deliveries of the full operational aircraft would begin one year later.
Price
Also, the aircraft unit price has increased from €110 million at 1998 values to a currently estimated €145 million. This price tag is 31 percent higher than originally budgeted for and EADS has demanded further price increases. €5 billion have already been paid by the countries financing this program.
Causes for developmental deficits
Since the beginning, the participating nations had significantly different requirements for the new transport aircraft. The UK Armed Forces needed a new fleet of military transport aircraft by 2004 and any delay beyond that date would have caused a loss in operational capabilities.
The German Armed Forces had more time, since their C-160 transport aircraft did not need to be replaced before 2008. Indeed, the German military focused on reducing the price of the A400M project. However, for Spain the A400M programme marked a unique opportunity for its nation’s aircraft industry to take part in this highly prestigious programme. The report also said France had a similar position to the UK, but remains committed towards solidifying joint European defence cooperation.
Additionally, the report detailed causes for developmental inadequacies in technical aspects of the project since the A400M created a design challenge as it combines tactical as well as strategic airlift capabilities. The partner-countries requested the aircraft be powered with a completely new high-power turboprop engine, which became another such challenge. The participating countries also chose to install a unique aviation suite into the aircraft.
According to the report, even by assuming a comfortable 80% chance for success in each of the three main challenges, the programme as a whole had no more than a 50% chance of success.
The original goal for the A400M was to build a completely new aircraft to be delivered within a very rigid time frame and at a very low cost, the report said.
EADS itself sought to challenge Boeing’s market position and clearly underestimated the technical challenges to be overcome.
According to the report, OCCAr (the European organisation for joint armament cooperation, Organisation Conjointe de Coopération en matière d’ARmement) which managed the A400M programme, never received the management resources or authority to provide effective oversight. This resulted in each change in the programme needing to be approved by all participating countries, causing further delays and complications.
Next steps
The report stated that major deadlines must be met in the coming weeks.
OCCAr is expected to present a comprehensive review of the programme by the end of February 2009. The report also pointed out that the contract stipulates that if the first flight is delayed by more than 14 months, participating nations have a legal right to abandon the programme in a collective or individual decision and demand their funding payments be returned. Since the first flight was scheduled for January 2008, this deadline expires in April 2009, which means that any decision about the future of the programme has to be taken by April 2009.
The report also noted that the programme runs at a loss and since aircraft deliveries have been greatly delayed this would allow governments to ask for major penalties, which would place EADS into a precarious financial situation. At the same time, the report stated that the European aerospace and defence giant should not be weakened since it is a part of the European sovereignty.
The report concludes that cancellation of the programme would entail very severe consequences for all involved. EADS and the entire European aerospace and defence industry would face large financial losses and would also lose its credibility as a major industrial programme partner. The participating nations would lose the European-built aircraft they sought to create and would find only US alternatives, leaving the military transport aircraft sector to the US. Further abandoning of the programme will be accompanied by losses of jobs and know-how and European sovereignty, the report stated.
For these reasons, the authors very strongly suggest that all nations, as well as the industrial partner, should reach agreement as quickly as possible to ensure the success of the programme.
Luca Bonsignore
