But a group spokesman was unable to say how many planes might be ordered.

Airbus Military, an Airbus subsidiary, said a "declaration of intent" had been signed earlier in the day in Pretoria, marking the first commitment of interest in the A400M from a government outside the seven countries that launched the project.

The South African Transport Department last Thursday said the government was prepared to sign a multi-million-euro deal to buy between eight to 14 Airbus A400M military transport aircraft in exchange for investment, technological knowledge and jobs.

In return for buying the aircraft in a deal valued from 837 million euros (1.1 billion dollars) between 2010 and 2014, South Africa would also participate in the A400M design and manufacturing program, the department said.

The A400M troop and light armoured vehicle carrier is the most ambitious project ever launched by the European military industrial sector, carrying an estimated cost of 20 billion euros.

To date 180 planes have been ordered: 60 from Germany, 50 from France, 27 from Spain, 25 from Britain, 10 from Turkey, seven from Belgium and one from Luxembourg.

Airbus Military hopes to sell at least 200 in the next 15 to 20 years.

The first flight is scheduled for 2006, with initial deliveries planned for