Originally Posted by
henra
I see it differently. The F-35 brings a leap in capability over the predecessors at only moderately higher costs. This leap in capability will always com at a price. This price being minor deficiencies and annoyances in peace time. If push came to shove you could still use the fleet and enjoy an enormous advantage over the adversary aircraft or Air Defence Systems. The deterrence effect of 700 F-35 will way exceed that of 1000 F-15/F-16/F-18. But we are digressing from the A400M. Which I btw. also don't see anywhere as negatively as some here do. It also has its teething problems but it brings strategic Air Lift capability with excellent Offroad capabilities. Probably not as much advantage over legacy stuff as the F-35 does but still a good capability
I agree with you regarding the A400s strategic capability however, it is being pressed into service as tactical AT which it is patently unable to carry out anywhere near as well as the Herc. Tellingly, the German, Italian and French air forces which all operate A400s also have Hercs to carry out the tactical role.