A-400M
 

Just saw an A-400M overhead here at Cardiff inbound to Rhoose - is that ours ??

A-400M
 

There is one a BZZ now so maybe

Two at BZZ now, how long before they are operational, or do they have to go to Boscombe for two years of testing.

Operational from September, by which time the first seven should be at Brize (delayed from March). Final operating capability slated for 2022, when all 22 aircraft are at Brize.

Having said that, the MoD announced the first 'operational' mission earlier this week (a logistics run into Akrotiri).

So, with delivery ramping up, and a budget freeze and perhaps cut in the pipeline, when do we rationalise the AT fleet and retire the C-130J fleet? (And we want to try and get one of the last 5 White tail C-17s?)

Not to be contentious :E

Glanced up and initially thought 'C-17' then I heard the noise of the engines - not loud e.g like C130

There are no more C-17s, as far as I am aware (the UAE bagged the last two last week). Perhaps KenV knows better.

RAF due to retire C-130Js in 2022 to coincide with A400M FOC (although some likely to be retained for SOF).

The UAE order made eight of the white tails now spoken for. Should still be two left.

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see that date shift to the left as a result of 'SDSR 15', even if it's a case of simply retiring them, or selling on, on an almost 1 for 1 basis against the A400 as and when each arrives.

It's not as though britmil inc. is any stranger to capability chasms.

A400M is a long way from being fully operational. Basically circuit bashing and freight. Will need a few years to mature and acquire useful tac clearances.

So if we keep some for SF, we won't really have retired the C-130Js then will we?

S-D

Lower hanger, same mind as you, saw it over Exmoor today, several miles away and initially thought it was a C17, then heard it, at least as my good lady said it wasn't a Russian Bear !

I'm sure the C17 could step in for any shortfall, give or take a couple of CBR points here or there...we seem to have the most under-utilised fleet in the world these days.:D

A400M FOC is a long way off. When SDSR comes looking for AT heads to roll they should flog the entire C130J fleet and then lease (as per the original C17 deal) 10 MC130Js and all the associated clobber off the U.S. to meet the SF task.

The A400M made its first operational delivery this week.
http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/archive/a...yload-05032015
mmitch.

Billynoclues
 

Really? Perhaps you'd like to share your foundation for those claims with all of us? :mad:

Some more background in Flight Global on the Cyprus flight earlier this month plus more info on the delivery situation etc.

ANALYSIS: A400M Atlas delivers the goods for RAF

Four of ten white tails are committed with a contract signed and some money exchanged.

Another four are "spoken for" with a letter of intent, but no contract yet and no payments. If another buyer comes along with money and ready to sign, they can probably get any of those four.

Two have zero commitments, with lots of different governments having formally expressed "interest" in them. Qatar is one of the interested parties who seems the most serious. But who knows for sure? Anything can still happen.

Billynoclues good one. I guess stopstart has no clue either . Work for Airbus by any chance ? :ok:

spotted this on Flightglobal this morning...........

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-a400m-atlas-delivers-the-goods-for-raf-409960/