(updates with more details)
PARIS (AFX) - Deliveries of the Airbus A400M military transport aircraft being developed by EADS(European Aeronautics Defence and Space Company) are likely to be between 18 and 24 months behind schedule, La Tribune financial daily reported, citing industry sources.
Deliveries could even be delayed by as much as three years according to the most pessimistic estimate, the report said.
La Tribune said Airbus Military, the unit responsible for the 6 bln eur project, denied any delay.
The French government's DGA arms purchasing office, which has ordered 50 of the aircraft, is unaware of the delays, the report said.
Airbus has received orders for a total 192 A400M planes and is scheduled to begin deliveries in Oct 2009 with a first flight timetabled for early 2008, according to La Tribune.
EADS shares plunged 26 pct on June 14 after Airbus announced delays in deliveries of the A380 super-jumbo. equitynext@afxnews.com an COPYRIGHT Copyright AFX News Limited 2005. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News. AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited
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