LAST EDITED ON 21-05-01 AT 02:28 PM (GMT)[p]The RAAF will soon be looking for replacements for its 12-strong C-130H fleet, currently used mainly in the strategic airlift role (the J’s mainly fill the tactical airlift role). AFAIK, the aircraft will soon undergoe a small upgrade to allow them to serve through till 2007. Three primary contenders have emerged, the C-17, A400M and C-130J-30.
The C-17 has many things working for it, and is certainly the most capable of the lot, in a totally different class to the C-130J-30, but has one major, and ultimately most important issue working against it, COST.
A400M isn’t even flying yet, I don’t know if they can make an approximately 2007-2008 service entry date. As for it’s capabilities, it sits somewhere in between the C-130J-30 and the C-17.
The C-130J-30 is the cheapest of the lot, and would seem to be the favourite at the moment, given commonality with the RAAF’s other J’s. However, it does not offer the substantial improvement in airlift capability that the RAAF is looking for.
It should be noted that part of the strategic airlift capability will also be filled by the RAAF’s new tankers.
Thoughts?
MinMiester
PS: Oh, and before anyone says it, I’m sure an An-7X would do great, but politically, this ain’t gonna happen.
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May 21, 2001 at 2:25 pm