A400M will not make 2009

[Modern Elmo]

A400 says no thanks to mbt’s:

Challenger 2 Tank
Type Main battle tank
Place of origin United Kingdom
Production history
Manufacturer Alvis Vickers
Specifications http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Challenger_2_tank

Weight 62.5 tonnes
Length 8.3 m (11.50m with gun forward)
Width 3.5 m (4.2 m with appliqué armour)
Height 2.5 m
….

Technical Specifications

Dimensions
Overall Length 45.1 m
Wing Span 42.4 m
Overall Height 14.7 m

Cargo Box Dimensions
Length (excluding ramp) 17.71 m
Ramp Length 5.40 m
Width 4.00 m
Height 3.85 m
Height (aft of wing) 4.00 m

Weights (2.25g)
Max. Take-off Weight 136.5 t
Max. Landing Weight 120 t
Max. Payload 37 t
Total Internal Fuel 47.7 t

Performance
Cruise Speed Range Mach 0.68 - 0.72
Max. Operating Speed 300 kt CAS
Initial Cruise Altitude at MTOW 29 000 ft
Max. Operating Altitude - Normal ops 37 000 ft
Max. Operating Altitude - Special ops 40 000 ft
Range at Max. Payload * 1700 nm
Range at 30-tonne Payload * 2400 nm
Range at 20-tonne Payload * 3450 nm
Ferry Range * 4750 nm
Tactical Take-Off Distance ** 1150 m
Tactical Landing Distance ** 680 m

* Long range cruise speed; reserves as per MIL-C-5011B.
** Conditions: Aircraft weight 110 t, all engines operative, ISA+15, sea level, soft/dry runway;
TOD as take-off distance to clear 50 ft obstacle;
LD as ground roll + 500 ft.

http://www.airbusmilitary.com/specifications.html

This, from the above Wikipedia, sounds like b.s:

As with earlier versions of the 120 mm gun, the rounds are in two parts, a charge and a warhead. Contrary to speculation, this does not reduce the rate of fire of Challenger 2 ...

Right.

[Modern Elmo]

Boeing might claim that a C-17 loaded with the A400’s maximum payload of 55,115 pounds might have about the same STOL performance as an A400. Boeing also has a C-17B proposal, with more thrust and more flaps and better short field performance than the C-17A.

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/row/fla.htm

A400M Future Large Aircraft - FLA
Avion de Transport Futur – ATF

Weights

Maximum Take-off Weight 110.850 kg 244,378 lb
Maximum Landing Weight N/A
Maximum Payload 25,000 kg 55,115 lb
Maximum Fuel N/A
Number of Fully Equipped Troops 105

Number of 88"x108" Pallets 9


Performances
Maximum Speed 422 ktas<
Maximum Cruising Speed Mach 0.68
Take-off Distance (S/L, ISA, MTOW at 50ft) < 1,067 m
< 3,500´
Landing Distance (S/L, ISA, MTOW at 50 ft) < 1,067 m < 3,500´
Maximum Range 7,593 km
4,100 nm
Range with Full Load 4,000 km
2,100 nm

Performances

Maximum Speed 422 ktas<
Maximum Cruising Speed Mach 0.68
Take-off Distance (S/L, ISA, MTOW at 50ft) < 1,067 m
< 3,500´
Landing Distance (S/L, ISA, MTOW at 50 ft) < 1,067 m < 3,500´
Maximum Range 7,593 km
4,100 nm
Range with Full Load 4,000 km
2,100 nm

http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/c17/docs/C-17_overview.pdf

… With a payload of 160,000 pounds, the C-17 can take off from a 7,600-foot airfield, fly 2,400 nautical miles, and land on a small, austere airfield in 3,000 feet or less. The C-17 is equipped with an externally blown flap system that allows a steep, low-speed final approach and low-landing speeds for routine short-field landings. …

General Characteristics:

Length:
174 feet (53.04 m)
Height at Tail:
Wing Span to Wingtips:
55.1 feet (16.79 m)
169.8 feet (51.74 m)
Maximum Payload:
At 4,000 nautical miles:
164,900 lbs. (74,797 kg)
100,300 lbs. (45,495 kg)
Range with Payload:
160,000 pounds:
40,000 pounds (paratroop):
2,420 nautical miles
5,610 nautical miles
Cruise Speed:
0.74 – 0.77 Mach
Takeoff Field Length (Max Gross Weight):
7,740 ft. (2,359.15 m)
Landing Field Length:
160,000 lbs of Cargo:
3,000 ft. (914.40 m)

http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/.../c17/index.htm

The C-17's ability to fly long distances and land in remote airfields in rough, land-locked regions make it a premier transporter for military, humanitarian and peacekeeping missions. It can:

Take off from a 7,600-ft. airfield, carry a payload of 160,000 pounds, fly 2,400 nautical miles, refuel while in flight and land in 3,000 ft. or less on a small unpaved or paved airfield in day or night.
Carry a cargo of wheeled U.S. Army vehicles in two side-by-side rows, including the U.S. Army's main battle tank, the M-1. Three Bradley infantry-fighting vehicles comprise one load.
Drop a single 60,000-lb. payload, with sequential load drops of 110,000 lb.
Back up a two-percent slope.
Seat 54 on the sidewall and 48 in the centerline. ...