Over the last 40 years we have bought stuff off the European market and in the main it has been a very expensive exercise.
Not only have the aircraft been found to be lacking in performance but the aircraft have been expensive and product back up very poor.
And buying from the USA has no assurances that it will be better. The C130J is a case in point and maybe it is time really to sit down and evaluate what we really need and more importantly whether we get value for money and if the aircraft can meet the role for which is intended,
The A400m is in its early days and I expect it will be very expensive to buy and operate.
Time for us to stop grand standing and take a long hard look at our situation. Our C130J's are not going to give the service that previous models did. We have let the H models go by the way and the E models were ditched because we did not take the hard decisions and upgrade them. Now today six of them fly as Super E's for the PAF who are very happy with them.
When will we ever learn.
Regards
Col