My real interest was in the number of aircraft we might require. If you look
here the same weight growth is expressed for FRS:
"Concern was also expressed with respect to weight gains:
"Increasing the armour of the proposed FRES vehicle has increased the weight specification from 17 tonnes to between 20-27 tonnes.68 The increased weight specification in turn resulted in the MoD dropping its requirement that the Utility vehicle be transportable by a C-130J Hercules transport aircraft and instead specifying that it be transportable by the proposed C-130J replacement, the A400M.69 CDP told us that:
There is no nation in the world today that has a plan for being able to produce a vehicle that light which has the degree to be able to be transported in a C-130J and to be able to have the protective mobility when it is deployed and goes on operations.70"
In which case, is our projected procurement adequate for the expected task, or should we consider trading in/selling out C-130Js and expanding out A-400M/ and, especially, our C-17 buy before the line closes.
(We might get a good deal on the C-130J as, since the US army is in te same position, the C-130J hopes of more orders might die as they can't meet the required need.)
With a max A-400M payload of 37 tons, is there growth to carry 2 FRES/Stryker at 38-39 tons?