Low and Slow
Excellent idea about the Gunships. I believe we came close to getting some when the Bosnia campaign was on, but the airships then realized it would take work away from the FJs. However, Gunships would have been useful in Afg.
About the load issue, there are some differences between the K and J floors. The J has the same floor as all C130s apart from the K which was built to take the Beverley role equipment. Which incidentally, they tried to make the J use until common sense won the day. Both floors have their advantages, but the
Js is far more flexible when carrying out a re-role.
The ideal would have been to buy in to the US airdrop system, but the people who ordered it did not of course know much about airdrop. There is always an attitude that our way is best. That is why QQ are taking a tried and tested airdrop system, and re-inventing it - which takes time. Of course if we had the same kit as the US/French/Canadians/Aussies/Kiwis we would be able to drop loads prepared by them during joint ops.