"Fastest growing order book in the industry: defence revenues to grow 60 percent by 2005," the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Companysaid in a statement.

"With the launch of the A400M and other significant programmes, we have achieved our stated goal (of) being a leader in the global defence business.

"Already our defence order book is one of the largest in the world and is poised to grow further," said the statement, issued at the Paris Air Show at Le Bourget airport near the French capital.

EADS owns 80 percent of Airbus, the European aircraft manufacturer that produces the A400M military transport plane.

Last month seven European nations signed a contract with Airbus confirming they would order a total of 180 A400Ms to replace ageing military transport planes such as the US Hercules C-130 and the Franco-German Transall C-160.

The project is the largest joint military venture ever undertaken by the European defence industry and is estimated to be worth 20 billion eurosbillion dollars).

Airbus said at the time it was confident of at least another 200 orders from other countries.

Germany has ordered 60 A400M aircraft, France has ordered 50, Spain 27, Britain 25, Turkey 10, Belgium seven and Luxembourg one.

Delivery is expected to being in 2008 or 2009

WAR.WIRE