European aerospace group EADS said Thursday the first flight of its A400M military transporter, planned for the end of the year, is now postponed to an indefinite date.

EADS said in statement the timing of the first flight would depend on tests carried out on the aircraft engine "and on the readiness of the propulsion system."

"Only after this and further discussions with customers, (can the) financial, technical and schedule implications ... be reliably assessed," EADS said, adding that its 2008 financial targets are unchanged.

The European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) has predicted delivery delays for the A400M aircraft of between six months and a year.

Problems with the A400M program last year forced EADS to include a provision of 1.37 billion euros (2.0 billion dollars) in its 2007 annual results.

Germany has ordered 60 A400M planes, France 50, Spain 27, Britain 25, Turkey 10, Belgium seven and Luxembourg one.

Outside Europe, South Africa has ordered eight and Malaysia four.