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EADS welcomes South Africa's intention to become an A400M partner

* Declaration of Intent stresses A400M export potential
* South Africa's participation worth at least € 750 million

Amsterdam/Pretoria, 15 December 2004

EADS welcomes South Africa's intention to become a partner in the A400M programme. The signature of a Declaration of Intent (DOI) in Pretoria is a landmark demonstrating the export potential of the A400M military transport aircraft.

EADS CEOs Philippe Camus and Rainer Hertrich said: "Having South Africa on board of the A400M more than three years before its maiden flight, is a great achievement for EADS’ Military Transport Aircraft Division. It also provides evidence of the success of our strategy in bringing Airbus technology to the defence market. The overwhelming commercial success of Airbus is driven by its outstanding innovation, capability and efficiency. Today's defence customers will also greatly benefit from proven technology and highly capable, economic aircraft. That's what the A400M stands for."

The A400M, 180 examples of which were ordered in May 2003 by seven European NATO nations, will first fly in 2008 with deliveries beginning from 2009.

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2003, EADS generated revenues of € 30.1 billion. The EADS Group includes the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world's largest helicopter supplier Eurocopter and the joint venture MBDA, the second largest missile producer in the global market. EADS is the major partner in the Eurofighter consortium, is the prime contractor for the Ariane launcher, develops the A400M military transport aircraft and is the largest industrial partner for the European satellite navigation system Galileo.

Contacts for the media:
Patrice Kreis
Tel.: +33 1 4224 20 63

Rainer Ohler
Tel.: +49 89 607 34235

Miguel Sanchez
Tel.: +34 91 585 77 89