Memorandum from EADS UK
1. DE&S
EADS believes that remarkable progress has been
achieved merging the DPA and DLO organisations in the midst of
difficult circumstances strategically and financially. Everyone
recognises that when two substantial organisations are merged
it takes time to embed a single new culture and way of working.
However, to focus only on the difficulties would we believe to
overlook significant achievements like signing off the underwriting
of the FSTA PFI contract despite extraordinarily hostile financial
market conditions.
2. PROGRAMMES
While there remain challenges in some programmes,
on A400M it needs to be recognised that this aircraft is designed
to meet a seriously demanding and much needed requirement for
the RAF and European air forces. It will provide a unique and
very flexible capability; but it is consequently a very complex
machine. For example, this aircraft will incorporate state-of-the-art
systems and structure in addition to using power plants designed
from scratch specifically to deliver the performance capability
demanded by the customers. It was also designed to be as US ITAR
restriction free as possible and to create a sovereign ability
in Britain and Europe to design create and support serious tactical/strategic
lift for our military customers. It is clearly not a straightforward
civil Airbus product, and accordingly cannot be approached in
the same manner as simply procuring a civil aircraft. We and our
suppliers are working intensively with our customers to resolve
outstanding issues as well as to mitigate the impact of any delays.
We are confident of agreeing a robust way forward.
Taken together, the FSTA and A400M programmes
will represent the establishment in Britain and Europe of a major
sovereign capability in large strategic military aircraft.
6 November 2008
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