Originally Posted by
ORAC
I think the point is that most para drop roles have taken by helo insertion at short range and increasingly by V-22 and then FVL.
The scenarios where it would be safe to use C-130 or Aa-400M to perform insertion at below 500ft without risk of catastrophic risk of loss of £400M airframes and 100+ troops being vanishingly small.
Particularly at a time when the army is increasingly looking at ranger type forces used, and inserted, in packet sized units.
I'm not discounting what you say, just that, whilst the capability exists/is deemed as required, then the aircraft should be available to service that requirement.
I fully agree that, other than for very specific small unit requirements, the use of large scale parachute forces is pretty much dead.