Twelve European Defense Agency (EDA) member countries today have agreed to pool airlifter resources in the future, with the focus on the A400M.

At this point it's a declaration of intent, with a formal letter of agreement due next year. The participants are Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia and Spain.

Initial operational capability is planned for 2014 - although the scope of assets available has not been defined so far - with full operational capability including a large number of the transport aircraft planned for 2017.

"We are very much focused on A400M," says EDA chief Alexander Weis, although countries could contribute other airlifters. One of the goals could be to get partners that aren't already A400M customers to pool and jointly buy a few airlifters. That could be critical for Airbus Military, which needs additional export orders for the A400M to make money. The current program for 180 airlifters will result in a loss, company officials have said.

Several countries also agreed to work together on future unmanned aerial vehicles, with an initial emphasis on maritime UAVs. Finland, France, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Sweden are supporting that effort.

Meanwhile, maritime mine countermeasures efforts leading to a new, common system at the end of next decade also is being pursued jointly by Belgium, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Sweden. Norway, which isn't part of structure, is expected to join, too.

Photo: EADS