Re Dropship United Peace Force
 

So, let's get this straight. A games designer knows that the engine intakes are better on top of the wings (a la loads of Russian aircraft designed for rough strips) but an aircraft designer does not?
Great! I will take 25. Well, when I say 'I', I obviously mean the poor chumps in power 2 decades hence who will have to pay for it.

The Army and USAF future transport aviation planning may not actually have been taken over by moles from Eurocopter, AgustaWestland and Airbus Military, but it sure looks like it.

That picture of them lined up on the apron makes them look like a revamped Victor.

I guess they positioned the intakes far forward to avoid debris from the NLG entering it, and to shield the fan from radar.

Inlets on top of the aircraft aren't ideal for quick checks of the engines and can have unstable flows at high AoA's, which is relevant for tactical operations.