Post by corsair67 on Dec 15, 2005 12:40:42 GMT 12
This article is from today's "The Age" newspaper about an ADF wish-list for a future transport aircraft purchase.
C-17s or A400s would certainly be a great addition to RAAF capabilities, even if they are never used to carry the M1A1 Abrams into combat anywhere. Whether Defence can afford to purchase a reasonable number of them is another question altogether!
Defence eyes huge planes
December 15, 20005.
THE Australian Defence Force has added several massive transport planes, each of which can carry one of the army's new 60-tonne Abrams tanks, to its Christmas shopping list.
The heavy-lift aircraft, costing more than $200 million each, will give the Defence Force the ability to rapidly deploy overseas a "hardened" force well able to protect itself.
Being considered are the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and the Airbus A400M. This "long-range strategic airlift capability" is central to the Government's strategic defence review to be released today.
The Globemaster can carry three times as much cargo weight as the Defence Force's medium-lift transport workhorse, the C-130 Hercules.
Other major equipment to be bought includes amphibious landing ships, air warfare destroyers and replacements for the RAAF's ageing F-111 bombers and F/A-18 fighter-bombers.
C-17s or A400s would certainly be a great addition to RAAF capabilities, even if they are never used to carry the M1A1 Abrams into combat anywhere. Whether Defence can afford to purchase a reasonable number of them is another question altogether!
Defence eyes huge planes
December 15, 20005.
THE Australian Defence Force has added several massive transport planes, each of which can carry one of the army's new 60-tonne Abrams tanks, to its Christmas shopping list.
The heavy-lift aircraft, costing more than $200 million each, will give the Defence Force the ability to rapidly deploy overseas a "hardened" force well able to protect itself.
Being considered are the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and the Airbus A400M. This "long-range strategic airlift capability" is central to the Government's strategic defence review to be released today.
The Globemaster can carry three times as much cargo weight as the Defence Force's medium-lift transport workhorse, the C-130 Hercules.
Other major equipment to be bought includes amphibious landing ships, air warfare destroyers and replacements for the RAAF's ageing F-111 bombers and F/A-18 fighter-bombers.
