You are absolutely correct Ukcds. AD was never properly funded when the DLO was formed and morphed into DEC holding the purse strings only interested in big ticket items.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing. I don't think Skydel 3 on the J would have solved much either. we may have been able to continue with MSP for a few more years. You could never have made a new one cost effectively. I don't believe many in the community understood the true COO/WLC across all LoDs of the MSP either.
A400M is only able to drop the same number of CDS as the long J anyway. Using Type V on the A400M (which I think they are going to do) would provide a FARP capability but that is about it. No wheeled vehicles other than a Quads which can be done on double CDS anyway.
Its good to know we had some of our [UK] top Loadmasters on the A400M cargo handling working group. I am really looking forward to finding out if it does what it says in the brochure.