As had been expected in recent weeks, Struck confirmed Germany would reduce its order for Airbus A400M military transport aircraft to 60 from 73 for budgetary reasons, in a speech to the lower house of parliament on the defense budget.

He said Germany would also reduce its order of Meteor advanced air-to-air missiles to 600 from 1,488. In addition, only 1,250 Iris-T missiles will be ordered instead of 1,812.

The two sets of missiles are intended to arm Eurofighter warplanes.

Struck attributed the decision to the "restrictive financial situation" facing the center-left government, which is under massive pressure to slash public deficits due to budget shortfalls.

"Cutting back the A400M and Meteor (order) is not easy to implement but financially necessary," he said.

Struck defended the decision as responsible and fair to key allies.

"The key to a military that is equiped for the future is not the number of units ordered," he said.

"The key is cooperation with European and American partners."

The A400M, with four turbo-prop engines, is destined to replace aging military transport planes across Europe, including the US Hercules C-130 and the Franco-German Transall C-160.

Anticipating the planned German cuts, French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie said last week that 180 Airbus A400M had been ordered so far, securing the ambitious program that is to be launched by year-end.

Initially a total 196 aircraft were to be ordered.

Struck had asked the chief of the armed forces, Wolfgang Schneiderhan, to present recommendations for military savings by the beginning of December.

Germany's partners within the European Union and NATO have long called on it to do more to carry its weight militarily by increasing its defense budget.

SPACE.WIRE