Originally Posted by
melmothtw
it will be massively more expensive to transport a (typically) small SOF team in the back of a larger and more expensive to operate A400M than it would a Herc, and also the nature of SOF work means a far greater risk to losing/seriously damaging an airframe which given the fewer numbers would be a bigger issue than currently.
I think this SF thing is a bit of a red herring. How often have Hercs been used in anger for SF ops in say the past decade? And if push came to shove, I'm sure the cousins would gladly lend us one. Also, don't forget there are a couple of paradrop capable STOL turboprops lurking at Brize which could also be called into service (for a fee)...
Finally finally, I wouldn't be surprised if an Osprey or two came into the mix for such eventualities when we come to look more closely at Puma's impending replacement.