Equivocator, your prices for c-17 are crap. Latest order equates to £140 million a pop for C-17. The USAF just ordered 15 of them for $2.95 billion.
As I had said, if they had ordered these when the pound was trading at 2.04 to the dollar, they would have cost £96 million each, comparable with A400m. I reckon significantly cheaper than A400m once you consider the significant development issues we all know the project is facing... We could easily use them in the Airdrop role once we have enough; where do you get the idea the yanks are NOT using the C-17 in the tactical role?
YouTube - C-17 Airdrop
YouTube - C-17 South Pole Quad Sequential Airdrop
YouTube - Afghanistan airdrop of supplies