Airbus' last gasp for the A400M

They sure have some gall (see end of post).

The $4-billion program to buy replacements for the military's aging Hercules transport planes, to be announced today, appears designed to ensure that a U.S.-built aircraft will ultimately win the contest.

Aerospace industry representatives say government procurement officials are considering having competitors test fly their planes over the next six months, a move that would eliminate the European A400M aircraft, which is only now being built.

That requirement would leave the C-130J, built by U.S. giant Lockheed Martin, as the only real contender...

Bruce Johnston, the Canadian representative of the European consortium building the A400M, said he would not be surprised if the procurement process is designed to favour the C-130J. He noted a similar program announced last fall by the Liberals also contained a "fly off", ensuring the A400M, scheduled to take to the air in 2008 [good bloody luck], would be knocked out of the competition...

Mr. Johnston said the firm can deliver the first aircraft to Canada by 2010 [and pigs will fly alongside]. Lockheed officials have said if Canada ordered C-130Js by October, the first aircraft could be delivered in 2008...

Meanwhile, this might affect one's confidence that the A400M will be on schedule.

Scandal-hit EADS co-chief Noel Forgeard has told a committee of French MPs he will not resign...

Pressure for him to quit mounted as regulators raided EADS's Paris offices amid accusations of insider dealing.

Tuesday's raid on the Airbus parent firm's headquarters, on Tuesday was part of an investigation into whether Mr Forgeard and others knew about the delays in building the A380 before they sold EADS shares in mid-March.

Mr Forgeard has denied knowing about any problems with the A380, or about plans by other EADS shareholders to cut their stakes..."

Update (July 2): "EADS and Airbus bosses both quit". Enough said.