Anyone still for the A-400M?

Aviation Week and Space Technology (Sept. 18) update: more reasons why Canada was right not to consider this yet-to-fly plane seriously as a CC-130 replacement or as an alternative to the C-17 (text subscriber only).

Besides the A380, [BAE Systems CEO]Turner harbors concerns over at least one other Airbus development. He identifies the A400M military airlifter as a cause for worry. Senior Airbus officials deny there's any delay on the program. A first flight is scheduled for early 2008, with deliveries to begin in the second half of 2009...

And it is interesting that NATO is considering buying C-17s; note A-400M bit (text subscriber only).

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization hopes to sort out the purchase details for its fleet of 3-4 Boeing C-17s by early November, with the goal of fielding the first of the aircraft next year to help alleviate chronic shortages in strategic lift...

...the C-17s will be owned by the alliance--only the second aircraft after the E-3 AWACS fleet to be acquired in that way. Arrangements call for an initial order of three aircraft, with the fourth carried as an option. How long the option will run is under negotiation with Boeing, and will largely be driven by the looming production line shutdown in 2009. Boeing had already built the NATO order into its plans, so the commitment won't extend the line's life...

Officials for the European Airbus Military A400M consortium say they, too, are in talks with NATO to take some of the aircraft. However, NATO officials note that's still a long way off, given the A400M is years from being fielded [my emphasis - MC].

For Boeing, still pending is the firm commitment from Sweden to take two C-17s the aircraft maker is banking on as part of its provision for building 18 more aircraft beyond the 184 in the basic production plan (180 go to the U.S. and four to the U.K.). Of those 18, four will go to Canada and Australia each, one more to the U.K., three more to the U.S. from a Congressional add-on and four to NATO as the transports. Boeing officials continue to argue for a larger U.S. fleet, holding onto a sliver of hope the line may remain open beyond 2009.