We dont know yet if the KLu will choose the A400M or C-130J, but one thing is sure, it will be easy for the KLu to sell their 2 C-130H and 2 C-130H-30 to other countries.
No doubt the Hs should be easy to sell. I wonder what the hours are?
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I do like the Grizzly, it’s just a pity that it has some issues with the program, and I still think it would have been a better buy for the Kiwis overallThe A400M has reached 100 deliveries. The link summarizes the program milestones to date.
Airbus Delivers the 100th A400M
--The milestone aircraft includes all new certified capabilities --The global fleet has reached 100,000 flight hours --Known as MSN111 this is the tenth A400M
We were after a tactical airlifter, not a strategic one and in our context it's a strategic airlifter. They will most likely put it forward when the strategic airlift project releases RFI and RFT. When that happens and what the requirements are is anyones guess. But the FAMC as we knew it no longer exists.
From my POV the A400 is a tactical airlifted with strategic attributes, while I agree it is the larger of the two and heavier overall for some airfields within the South Pacfic the A400 does have the better of soft field landing ground pressure wise. I would have to find it again but I believe the RAF did trials of this on a beach somewhere. I’ll have to go hunting for it
Now that the C-17 is out of production, there is some speculation that this (Canada joins Europe's 'military mobility' defence project) could potentially lead to a Canadian purchase of 6-8 A400Ms to support a strategic airlift capability in Europe. The five C-17s we currently operate are reputedly fully engaged to the point they are piling on hours at a rate faster than anticipated, leaving no capacity to support this new commitment. Also, now that Canada is an Airbus partner country (with the purchase of the C-series airliner), assembly could conceivably take place at the former Bombardier (now Airbus) facility in Quebec ( Airbus in Canada). To the current Liberal government, intent on keeping the vote in Quebec, this would have to be an extremely attractive option...The A400M has reached 100 deliveries. The link summarizes the program milestones to date.
Airbus Delivers the 100th A400M
--The milestone aircraft includes all new certified capabilities --The global fleet has reached 100,000 flight hours --Known as MSN111 this is the tenth A400M
I am not an expert in the Canadian aerospace industry, but it think it is quite unlikely that a whole A400M-assembly line will be created for just 6-8 aircrafts.
I didn't say it made sense. It would be a political move to satisfy a key electorate. HOWEVER, if there was a business case for sales to NA (and potentially SA), an assembly line in Canada could be justified. Several years ago Mexico was said to have been interested (Mexico starts A400M evaluation).
The NZ government saw the A400M as far to risky and that was a big consideration. It's still to risky for them and given the issues with NH90 sustainment that both the RNZAF and the Australian Army experience, I do not think that the NZ government will be very keen on going anywhere near the A400M. Unlike Australia we aren't very keen on throwing our defence money away. We learned that lesson the hard way. Also unlike the RAAF we do not have a twin engine tactical airlifter and that also means that the C-130 was going to be the better option for us anyway. Size isn't everything and besides the A400M is quite pricey. We definitely wouldn't have been able to acquire five. Two possibly three at the most with the money budgeted. That is a significant reduction in capability.
I’d rather see Canada trying to obtain some minimally used C-17s from the ME and have the ME sellers obtain A400Ms. Unfortunately, I doubt they would want to trade even though the A400M might be more practical for their needs. Other users might also outbid us should any become available. A shame the line will never be restarted.
I doubt junior could sell Canadian production to his own caucus let alone the rest of the country. As for Canada getting A400Ms, not so sure. I would consider commercial freighters first to take some of the cargo that doesn’t require the C-17’s capability. Sure wish we had grabbed some more white tails earlier.
Agree. DND planners had recommended purchasing 8 at the time, but the government of the day (Conservatives) cheaped out, and as usually happens, we are now living with the consequences of that decision. Still though, barring a miraculous buy of used airframes, having some A400s does make a lot of sense. Interoperability with our European partners, more airlift, and, maybe most important of all, having these would take significant stress of the C-17 fleet, which are truly Strategic resources.
You snooze, you lose. This also applies to the Indians who wanted more C-17s.
This is the only part of your post I strongly agree with but I will refrain from further comment until I can read more updates about the 2018/2019 Korean prior interest in 6 Spanish A400M — that seems to have died a natural death.
I am pretty sure the C-17 tooling and jigs suffered the same fate as the Raptor stuff even although. as I understand it, both major production Items were supposed to be retained. A shame Boeing and Airbus couldn’t come to some kind of joint European production agreement for the C-17 rather than Airbus and European air forces pi$$ing away a pile of treasure on a less than ideal sort of strategic lifter. Probably US laws that would have prevented such an arrangement however.
C17 was in production for a considerable time (~24 years), and everyone had ample opportunity to buy into it if they wanted. They even produced a few white tails which were found homes after the production run. UK is in Europe and also an A400 operator, and purchased 8, in addition to the ~22 A400 they have purchased. I don't see the other European operators particularly interested in the C17, although NATO probably should have increased its buy to 8 from the 3 they actually ordered. But NATO is a defensive pact, long range lift annoys some NATO nations, and particularly Germany as it wants to put a dozen in some sort of transport alliance.
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