Aircraft

EADS Military Air Systems yesterday handed over the first components of the Airbus Military A400M transport aircraft, with the airframer's Bremen, Germany facility taking rear fuselage section shells.

The handover, which took place at EADS Military's facilities in Augsburg near Munich (pictured below), marks the start of the subassembly delivery schedule.  EADS Military is responsible for the entire rear fuselage section, coordinating the work share subcontracts from French supplier Sogerma and the Turkish partner TAI.

© EADS Military Air Systems

From left to right: Michael Kohlhaas, German procurement agency BWB A400M programme officer,  Hans Lonsinger, vice president Augsburg site & aerostructure programmes, Thilo Liebig, programme manager A400M fuselage & empenage Airbus Bremen,  Adolfo Revuelta, senior vice president and head of A400M program, Airbus Toulouse, Peter Gutsmiedl, senior vice president programmes, EADS Military Air Systems

Adolfo Revuelta, A400M programme manager at Airbus says: "The A400M programme is one of the most important European military projects and is under enormous time pressure. I am proud to receive the first components for the assembly in Bremen on the very day of the agreed delivery deadline."

EADS Military develops and produces around 40% of the German workshare in A400M.