From what I hear, Boeing production is running ahead of schedule, so Canada and Australia may be able to get them very quickly (the RAAF seems to be talking end of ’06 for their first aircraft, with two in ’07 and the last one in ’08 if memory serves).
As for the C-130s, I think it makes a lot of sense – a balance of high and low capability is needed, and buying A-400Ms would have been too expensive and would not fill either the high or low requirement.
I agree, don’t see any reason to wait too long for the ’17s (didn’t Boeing divert USAF production for the UK?). As it stands the C-17 makes the best sense for the Canadian Forces given our proximity to the manufacturer and the level of inter-operability we share with the US military. I still believe that the only Herc replacement in the world is another Herc, and with the infractrusture already in place to handle the Herc the J-model only makes sense.
The previous govenment was ‘gung-ho’ it seems to buy the An-124, and even now their ‘defence critic’ is denouncing the C-17 as ‘uncessary’ and a ‘threat to our sovereignty’…. shake your head… I’d just like to know how they expect to get our Forces to Afghanistan, etc.,… drive?
BTW, has the A400 even flown yet?? I haven’t even gone looking around for it, but it would seem foolhearty to commit to an aircraft with an unknown availability, let alone track record (as the previous government did with the S-92 – has it received its military certification yet?).
Happy Canada Day!! 139 years, and better than ever!
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