Towards a solution for the Airbus A400M?
(BRUXELLES2) The actors of the Airbus A400M seem to be moving towards a solution. In any case, on the French side, we hope that the meeting at Le Castelet, between all the Ministers of Defense concerned (Germany, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Turkey, Belgium), on Friday July 24, will make it possible to reaffirm the continuity of the European carrier's program and to put an end to the public controversy that has been underpinning for several months. Most of the players are, in fact, determined to bury the hatchet and continue somehow to support the program. No need to procrastinate. This is as much a strategic issue – operational and industrial – as it is a political or economic one. There really isn't any other solution available on the futures market. It remains to solve the British equation.
The withdrawal of the British is no longer relevant
The United Kingdom is, in fact, taken by the throat both at the budgetary and operational level. And the government must obtain visible concessions from its partners which will allow it to justify, in particular vis-à-vis its parliamentarians, reaffirmed support for the Airbus A400M while, moreover, the cuts affect other of its programs . But stopping the total program seems to be an unthinkable ultimate solution even on the other side of the Channel. Quite simply for economic reasons. Local industrialists have also stepped up to the plate and warned of the possible consequences of the cessation of all British participation, from the social point of view – “8000 jobs in danger” – as industrialist. "The probability that in 15 years time the UK has a fully-fledged composite wing manufacturer will reduce substantially," said Ian Godden, chief executive of the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC), in June. “If the UK government does not fund [the work] then Germany and Spain will pick it up. While the United States is carrying out program shutdowns, which will primarily affect British industry, this would be a new blow.
terms of agreement
At Le Castelet, “the” solution will not be found. But the terms of renegotiation of the contract. A second phase of negotiations will then begin on the nature and amount of compensation, the staggering of deliveries, etc. Efforts could also focus on delivering a light version of the aircraft as quickly as possible, from 2012 (with self-protection, take-off and landing equipment) but without all the refined electronic options (TRN, TM-LLF, etc.), which would then be delivered in a version 2. A solution that seems more reasonable than the program planned at the start which resembled more the exercise of the conjurer than that of an industrialist. And a concession to the industrialist. For the British, a specific arrangement could be made with the suspension of payments to the aircraft manufacturer. And the latter could be required to pay additional compensation, to the compensation for delay, to deal with palliative solutions (rental of additional C130Js or C17s).
