The project has been plagued by delays and excess costs, entailing €1.7bn (£1.57bn) in penalties.
European states have ordered 180 of the giant transporters, designed to carry up to 32 tonnes, but France has already threatened to cut back.
The aircraft is over-weight. Its turbo-prop engines built by Rolls-Royce and France's Snecma are under-powered. There have been serious glitches in the software from MTU Aero Engines.
to be continue....
