German Luftwaffe may buy C-130 in addition to A400M

Germany’s air force is considering buying more aircraft in addition to Airbus A400M military transport planes, one parliamentary and one military source said on Wednesday.

In its deliberations, which the military source said are not linked to problems with the Airbus A400M, the air force could buy about 10 additional planes.

The parliamentary source said purchases of something like Lockheed’s C-130 Hercules might be envisaged and that the A400 was, according to the air force, too wide and heavy to land on some runways.

Eamon Hamilton ‏@eamonhamilton

Luftwaffe potentially buying 10 C130J Hercules (ht @alert5) is a BIG upset for A400M

RAF opted to keep C130J post 2020 (had planned to axe fleet); Armee de l’Aire buying 2+2 C130J/KC130J; now Luftwaffe w/ potential 10ac.

Of course, Luftwaffe may opt for a twin-engine light transport – it’d be certainly cheaper – but capability gap would potentially be greater

Luftwaffe operating C130J is kinda funny, too, being the only western Air Force that *hasn’t* operated Hercules in its 62-year history

Even the Soviet Union flew the C130 Hercules before the Germans 😉

Post-Nepal earthquake evacuation operation success, IAF to buy three more C-17 aircraft

Indian Air Force has initiated a proposal to purchase three more Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft from the US for about Rs 8,700 crore, impressed as it is by the cargo carrier’s varied utility that includes carrying out of large-scale humanitarian assistance operations such as the ongoing relief effort in earthquake-hit Nepal.

requirements are out
http://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportunity&mode=form&id=36bbba77ca454a9464c1ed3ebc1fa8b1&tab=core&_cview=1

So far you’ve argued nothing. If you have something to say constructive then come out and say it. I’ve answered your original comment and you’ve stated no facts.

Let me see if i understand your ‘argument’

Canards are
– weightless
– free
– require zero maintenance

yes, clearly you have made a strong case

The idea that canards add weight, complexity or cost is pure F.U.D.

if by ‘F.U.D.’ you mean fact, then yes

and is a bogus disclaimer painting all canards in a negative light.

hardly.

In a combat jet, the difference in aerodynamic performance might be worth the penalty, because combat. That is very unlikely to be the case in a trainer.

What makes sense in a fighter does not necessarily make sense in a trainer and vice-versa

And btw trainers are typically built much heavier than front-line fighters because they tend to fly much higher numbers of annual hours. They tend to get beat up by the cadets and have to be rugged.

Please list the trainer that is heavier than a front-line fighter.

I will go ahead and state right now that there will be zero proposals submitted to the T-X competition with canards. Bank on it

If they go canard the flight envelope is easier to develop and more adaptable to changes later. I’d be very surprised any clean slate doesn’t explore a canard.

I would be very surprised if they did. A canard adds weight, cost and complexity, three things a trainer can ill-afford