Rapid Fire Jan. 17, 2013: Airbus Military 2012 Sales, Deliveries

• Airbus Military delivered 29 aircraft in 2012 – 20 light and medium military transport, 4 P-3 conversions, and 5 A330 MRTTs – and received orders for 32 planes: 28 C295s and 4 CN235s. The backlog stands at 220 aircraft: 174 A400Ms, 17 MRTTs, 5 CN235s, 20 C295s, and 4 P-3s.

• France’s AFP [AFP] says that according to unnamed sources “close to the talks” between India and Dassault, an option for an additional 63 Rafale jets could be added to their buy-in-progress. First they need to finalize the contract, agree on what will be manufactured in India, and at the moment the country is decreasing its defense budget. But this could make sense if their 5th-gen option keeps getting postponed.