A400M, KC-390 Will Reshape Transport Market

Aviation Week and Space Technology ^ | 2/4/2011 | Douglas Royce

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

The military transport market will see production of almost 900 new aircraft over the next decade, but the raw numbers obscure major changes in the landscape. Production of the Boeing C-17 could end, leaving the strategic transport market to the Airbus Military A400M, while the Lockheed Martin C-130J will face a challenge for the tactical sector from Embraer’s new KC-390.

In the absence of Congressional funding for more U.S. Air Force aircraft, Boeing has restructured C-17 production to be economic at a lower rate but cannot hope to keep the line going indefinitely on export orders. Forecast International projects the last C-17 will be delivered in 2016, leaving the A400M as the only large Western transport capable of the strategic airlift mission. The A400M program has suffered delays and appeared in danger of cancellation in 2009, but a new commitment by the major customers to complete development means the aircraft will survive.

[Yo-Yo]

the USMC may be interested in a few KC-390s to refuel their F/A-18s and F-35Xs at safer speeds than a KC-130 can muster.

[K-Stater]

Bump