Interesting - the C-17 suffered the same degree of difficulty in its initial decade and was regarded also as a dud. I suspect this article is somewhat out of date - by all recent accounts the A-400 is performing perfectly (or as much so as these big transports ever do - remember the C-5) with the RAF and the French. Those comments on its service with the Luftwaffe are merely repeating some 'excuses' generated by the German Defence Department to explain the terrible (catastrophic is a decent describer) readiness of all of its aircraft and tanks, most notably not just the A-400.