France has made a partial U-turn over its refusal to provide pre-launch funding for the Future Large Aircraft (FLA) military transport programme by offering to finance "at least half" of the country's share.
The programme has been embroiled in controversy as various nations, including France, have withdrawn funding or, in the case of Germany, have attempted to switch the FLA programme to an Antonov An-70-based solution.
In a written answer to Senator Fernand Demilly, French defence minister Alain Richard also reveals that the overall cost of the 288-aircraft programme would be Fr150 billion ($25 billion) over 20 years, of which Fr30 billion would be for development.
Source: Flight International