Cape Town - Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota has justified spending R10bn on the new A400 military transport aircraft saying the currently used Hercules C-130 is coming towards the end of its operational life - in 2015.

In reply to a question from Democratic Alliance MP Moulana Sayedali-Shah, the minister said the SA Air Force had spent about R870m on the avionics and major servicing of the airframes.

The upgrade of the avionics was to comply with "contemporary aviation regulations mainly in the interest of flight safety", he said.

Asked about the life expectancy of the C-130s, he said this "depends on the condition of the outer wings".

"The SA Air Force recently commenced with the assessment of the condition of the outer wings in response to instructions from Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) regarding the life limitations of the B-Model outer wings and the influence of past operational flight profiles on the set limitations of the outer wings."

The minister said it was not possible at present to predict a specific outcome until all information from the physical investigation by the Air Force and the analysis from OEM has been received and interpreted.

Lekota said while the A400M was primarily a strategic airlift platform, it had tactical applications as well. The C-130 was mainly a tactical air-lifter, but its range provided it with limited strategic capabilities.

Earlier this year, Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin said the cost of the eight military aircraft ordered for Airbus Military was expected to be €830m but revenue through South African participation in the production processes of the A400M is expected to bring in revenue of some €430m.

Erwin said the South African involvement in the Airbus Military A400M airlifter programme was "a big step" for South Africa's aerospace industry but it was "an exciting" one.

Airbus Military reported that a contract had been signed by Lekota in Pretoria making the country a partner in the airlifter programme.

South Africa would take delivery of eight of the military aircraft from 2010 to 2014.

Erwin said that South Africa "by going into the partnership" was part of the production process and was therefore eligible to be among "the first deliveries" of the aircraft.

South African personnel would be part of the technical committees involved in the manufacture of the aircraft and the contract had involved the provision by South Africa of "a wide range of componentry".

With acknowledgement to News24.