Ending years of argument and suspense, eight European nations have signed an agreement to build 196 new A400M turboprop transports to support distant military deployments. The entire program will cost $18 billion; the first aircraft will be in service in 2008. Germany will buy 73 aircraft, France 50, Britain 25, Turkey 10, Belgium 7, Portugal 3, and Luxembourg one. Italy bailed out of the project, refusing to buy the 16 aircraft it had originally scheduled. Its withdrawal had been expected and its participation was not considered critical.--Stephen V Cole