BERLIN - The German government has put off until after this month's national election a decision on whether to sign up for a missile system being developed with Britain, the Defense Ministry said Thursday.

But a ministry spokesman denied a report that London was threatening to review its commitment to a European transport plane project because of the delay — a move that could upset efforts to forge a European defense industry and coordinate its armed forces.

The German parliament's budget and defense committees voted Thursday at their last meetings before the Sept. 22 vote to push ahead with plans to develop of a new armored personnel carrier for the Germany army.

But a decision on whether to join the six-nation Meteor missile project was not on the agenda because it is still being considered by Defense Minister Peter Struck, the spokesman said.

"It can't be decided until we have a new parliament and new committees," the spokesman said on customary condition of anonymity.

He said the ministry knew nothing of a reported threat by the British government to pull out of the joint development of a new military transport plane, the Airbus A400M because of the hold up.

The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper said Thursday that Britain wouldn't stick to the agreement if Germany misses the Sept. 30 deadline for the Meteor project.

That deadline could be extended and possible price penalties re-negotiated with arms manufacturers, the ministry spokesman said.

In London, the Ministry of Defense wouldn't say whether the Airbus deal and the Meteor missiles were linked.

"The U.K. is keen for early progress on both purchases," a spokesman said on customary condition of anonymity.

He said talks were continuing to try to secure the A400M deal and that the situation was "complicated."

Germany, Britain, France, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, Turkey and Luxembourg signed a contract for 196 Airbus A400M aircraft last December.

Germany ordered 73, though has only released funds for the first 40, raising concern in Britain and other partner countries about Berlin's commitment to the 17 billion euro (dlrs 16.6 billion) project.

Expected to enter service in 2008 or 2009, the planes are a key element of European Union plans to set up its own military force of 60,000 men able to deploy quickly for operations independent of NATO.

Britain is leading the development of the Meteor air-to-air missile for use on the Eurofighter planes being produced by a European consortium for the air forces of Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain.

Germany plans to develop and build 400 new Igel APCs — German for hedgehog. The Igel is lighter and better-protected against land mines that the Bundeswehr's aging Marder vehicles and can be transported in the A400M.