Nimrod MR4 could have had the avionics fitted to an Airbus or beoing airframe.
Just that simple, eh? How many Airbus or Boeing aircraft are fitted with suitable radar systems, bomb bays etc or are marinised and strengthened for extended low level maritime operations?
And do we need A400m why not just get more C17.
Cost, basically. It seems that the MoD might just about be able to buy the existing 4 C-17s the RAF is leasing and add a fifth. But it certainly could not afford to buy the same number of C-17s as A400Ms under current plans. The C-17 is an excellent airframe, but numbers of assets are needed, not just individual platform capability.
The C-17 was in competititon with the An-124 as the Short Term Strategic Airlifter until the A400M is ready. The A400M is intended to replace the ageing C-130K in roughly similar numbers to meet the RAF's global tactical transport needs.