PARIS (AP) -- Airbus says its troubled A400M military transport plane is expected to make its maiden flight on Friday, making it harder for governments to scupper the project.
Airbus spokesman Jaime Perez-Guerra said Tuesday that final tests were successful and that "most probably" the airlifter will fly on Friday morning.
The date is to be confirmed after the test data is analyzed.
The A400M is one of Europe's most ambitious joint military-industrial undertakings -- and it is running three years late.
Parent company EADS asked the seven governments that ordered the military plane to renegotiate the deal, but talks are complicated by cost overruns and different priorities.
Britain wants fast delivery, while Germany has budget concerns.
