Posted on 03/09/2010 1:12:45 AM PST by bruinbirdman
Agreed. The A400M was another european socialized jobs program. When there is no motivation to break even or turn a profit, odds are the project ends up just like it has.
I still think if the European military orders 180 C-17’s instead of the failing A400M program, it wouldn’t be just the current model with the Pratt & Whitney F117-PW-100 (PW2040) engines and the Boeing “flying boom” refueling receptacle. That level of production—especially given European local parts requirements—will involve installing Rolls-Royce RB211-535E4 engines rated at 40,100 lb. thrust and using a drogue-and-probe refueling system.
If they buy a Europeanized variant of the C-17, I wouldn’t be surprised if the RAF swapped their existing C-17’s for the new version.
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