ABSTRACT: This article analyzes management challenges in international defense cooperation programs, using the Airbus A400M military transport aircraft development as a case study. It identifies systemic issues arising from multi-national collaboration, particularly the “pre-contract stage problem” characterized by prolonged negotiations, complex stakeholder coordination, and difficulties balancing national industrial interests. The study traces the evolution of European joint combat aviation programs across four generations, highlighting recurring management deficiencies such as schedule delays, cost overruns, and reduced export flexibility. Key findings reveal that organizational complexity, inflexible industrial participation policies (“juste retour”), lack of centralized authority, and underestimation of technical/financial risks significantly hinder program efficiency. Based on the A400M experience, the article proposes practical solutions: establishing supranational management bodies with stronger oversight, implementing mechanisms for dynamic industrial work redistribution, prioritizing risk mitigation phases, adopting flexible contract structures, and simplifying pre-contract procedures. These recommendations aim to enhance the effectiveness of future collaborative defense initiatives.

KEYWORDS: Management, International defense programs, Airbus A400M, armament cooperation.