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The French Air Force Projection Command (FAP) has taken delivery of its first Airbus A340-211 TLRA (très long rayon d'action or very long range). The aircraft will be deployed by 3/60 Estérel transport squadron, where it will replace the existing DC-8FR in the strategic transport role. The FAP is scheduled to receive a second aircraft in January 2007. Both aircraft, acquired from Austrian Airways, are being leased by the French MoD under a Private Finance Initiative (PFI) arrangement from lngepar, a subsidiary of the Caisse D'Epargne bank, in association with TAP, which is responsible for maintenance. The arrangement, which the MoD says is 30% cheaper than a straight acquisition, covers availability of the aircraft, plus maintenance over an initial period of five years, plus two optional additional periods of two years.