A RUSSIAN OFFER to supply Antonov An-124 heavy-lift aircraft as settlement for the country's debt to Germany is raising fears that the Federal finance ministry could use it to undermine procurement funding of the Future Large Aircraft (FLA).
According to the German defence ministry, the offer is to be examined by an inter-ministerial expert group under the supervision of the Federal finance ministry.
Russia is reportedly offering between four and eight of the heavy transports as payment of its German foreign-trade deficit.
Sources in Bonn fear, however, that the finance ministry could use the offer as an argument to hold up funds for the purchase of the German air force's FLAs. These are intended to replace aging Transall C-160s in 2010, despite the different roles of the two types.
There are further fears that the idea may have the backing of German chancellor Helmut Kohl, because he wants to establish closer industrial ties with Russia.
The Bonn defence ministry is expected to scorn the Russian offer, partly to protect the FLA, and partly because of reported user dissatisfaction with the An-124's four ZMKB Progress D-18T turbofans.
One defence ministry source says that Germany needs the Antonov "just as urgently as we need a white elephant".
Source: Flight International
