KC-390 looks good but is unproven

The RNZAF has 50 years experience on Hercs - why throw it away? They are everywhere and you have a high degree of compatibility with other operators in the region.

Plus they last for the said 50 years...

Sexy no - useful and low risk 5 Stars......

Well said, Asturias56 - I concur. As you rightly say, not the sexiest piece of kit, but a utilitarian "off-the-shelf" no brainer with a high degree of familiarity and commonality for the users.

reader8

'Just as limited as Oz C-130J'

Care to elaborate on your thoughts?

Generally the wing box structure makes the decision on your behalf.

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All aircrafts have their limits. I'm not saying C-130 is bad for NZ, but 'interoperability' is one way to spin 'no significant increase (or decrease) in capabilities'.

Remember, Embraer specifically designed the KC-390 as a modern replacement for the C-130-J, it's designed from the ground up to compete and, on paper, it does the job admirably and appears to have performed well during trials to date.

I'd point to range, payload, maintainability, airworthiness management and floor loading as key areas where KC-390 had been very smartly designed.

It's understandable why NZ made the decision to take C-130-J, KC-390 would have accompanying acquisition risks, training requirements and organisational change that C-130 plainly does not, but I suspect the 390 would have been a more enduring solution.

I'd also throw the proline flight deck configuration and the way that 40 Sqn manages pilots into the pot as providing some potential advantages for dual qualifications on future types.
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Unless they are RAF Cmk5s..... :-)

YEs - odd - anything built/modified by the Brits seems to have a shorter life span than similar kit in use everywhere else........ mus t be because it sits around rusting in your wet climate? Or maybe no-one buys any spares??

We also buy small fleets that then get heavily used - I beleive the RAF A400M and C17 fleets have the highest hour airframes, although that may be out of date info

https://www.defensenews.com/2020/06/...for-1-billion/

New Zealand military buys 5 Lockheed Hercules planes for $1 billion

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand’s military said Friday it will buy five Super Hercules transport planes from Lockheed Martin for $1 billion.

The planes will replace the military's existing fleet of Hercules, all of which are more than 50 years old and have been involved in a series of embarrassing breakdowns over recent years.

Defence Minister Ron Mark said the new planes will be used for operations in New Zealand, the South Pacific and Antarctica.

“Generations of New Zealanders have grown up and grown old with the Hercules, and they know these aircraft are an essential first line of response," Mark said in a statement.

He said the new planes will be able to carry a bigger payload as well as travel farther and faster than the current fleet.

Three of the nation's current C-130 Hercules planes date back to 1965 and the other two to 1969. They have been upgraded over the years, but frequent breakdowns have hampered some high-profile missions. At one point last year, the entire fleet was temporarily grounded.

New Zealand will take delivery of the first of the new C-130J-30 aircraft in 2024 with the full fleet operating by 2025. The price tag of 1.5 billion New Zealand dollars (nearly U.S. $1 billion) includes a flight simulator and supporting infrastructure.

C17 are doing under 1000 hrs per frame annually these days. I would hate to think their usage when the sandpit was in full swing.

https://assets.publishing.service.go..._FY2018-19.pdf


additionally scroll down to wa84

https://www.publications.parliament....41022w0001.htm




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It wasn't Land Rovers that gave us problems, just the NZLAVs. They definitely needed a good run up and plenty of Vaseline...:O

It's been said many times before: "The only thing to replace an old Hercules is a new Hercules"

I guess they've been around so long the define the mission - everyone has based all their plans and tactics around them (eg a Brown Bess Musket) forever it needs something really revolutionary (a Winchester) to get folk to change or even consider change.......