TOULOUSE, France, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- Airbus, which delivered its first A380 superjumbo jet nearly two years late Monday, said its A400M military cargo plane could be six months behind schedule.
Airbus Executive Vice President for Programs Tom Williams said the four-engine turboprop transport and tanker would likely have its first flight next July rather than in January, as planned and that the pan-European company could face financial penalties for late delivery to air forces that ordered it, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Belgium and Luxembourg agreed to buy 192 A400M aircraft. Airbus Military SL -- a European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. subsidiary created for the management of the A400M project -- has said the potential market is at least double that size.
The consortium that's developing the plane's engine has fallen behind its targets and its first test is now likely to take place in January, rather than this past May, Williams said.
"The A400M has got some challenges, without a doubt," he said.
The A400M is designed to double cargo capacity and substantially increase flying range, compared to the Lockheed C-130 Hercules and Transport Allianz Transall C-160 that many countries use.
