New future transport aircraft.

[hammarö]

France, Germany, Sweden launch future transport aircraft.

France, Germany, and Sweden have agreed development of a new fixed-wing medium-lift transport aircraft, it was announced on 30 June.

The French Ministère des Armées reported the agreement, saying that the three countries launched the Future Mid-Size Tactical Cargo (FMTC) programme during the Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace (AAE)-hosted French Presidency of the Council of the European Union (PFUE) European Wings event.

“It was during this event on 23 June that an agreement was signed for the Future Mid-Size Tactical Cargo (FMTC), a tactical transport aircraft project replacing, by 2040, the [Lockheed Martin] C-130 Hercules and Casa [Airbus Defence and Space (DS)] CN235 fleets. Supported by the European Defence Agency (EDA), this agreement allows the definition of the aircraft intended to operate in addition to the [Airbus DS] A400M fleet from 2040,” the AAE said..

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news ... t-aircraft

[hammarö]

Now I understand why Swedish Air Force continued the use of C-130 and followed Germany and France.

[Bennie]

Now I understand why Swedish Air Force continued the use of C-130 and followed Germany and France.

The Swedish Tp84s already are the oldest C-130s in Europe. By 2040 they will nearly be 85 years of age!
Perhaps the type identification was chosen to align the number with their retirement age!

[SquAdmin]

The Swedish Tp84s already are the oldest C-130s in Europe.

Romanian C-130B's are even older.

In addition: in June it was reported that Sweden would purchase C-130J's. I assume this will still go ahead, because 18 years is a big gap to bridge and that new European transport for sure won't be available by then.

[hammarö]

But why not C-390?

[NJO]

Now I understand why Swedish Air Force continued the use of C-130 and followed Germany and France.

The Swedish Tp84s already are the oldest C-130s in Europe. By 2040 they will nearly be 85 years of age!
Perhaps the type identification was chosen to align the number with their retirement age!

Sweden are buying the unwanted C-130Js from Italy, so their C-130 fleet will be not quite so old.

[ehusmann]

By 2040 they will nearly be 85 years of age!

Nope, you need to redo the math.

[Bennie]

By 2040 they will nearly be 85 years of age!

Nope, you need to redo the math.

Make that 75

[ehusmann]

And even that is not true. I would have been true for the 84001, but that one is already gone since 2014. The 84002 comes close (delivered '69), but the rest is from 1981. So not nearly 75 years by 2040.