June 26,
2008: After 25 years of development,
AirBus continues to have problems getting their new military transport into
service. European Union (EU) have nearly 200 of the new A400M transports on
order. Many NATO members already possess similar C-130s. While the C-130 can
haul 20 tons, the A400M can haul 37 tons. The A400M was supposed to begin
service next year, but more delays have been encountered. Now it's coordination
problems between the French and Spanish factories that are crucial to the
construction of the first A400Ms.
The A400M
has a top speed of 779 kilometers per hour, a range of 7,500 kilometers, and
normally carries about 27 tons. The nearest competitor is the American C-130.
The most common version is the C-130H. It has a range of 8,368 kilometers, a
top speed of 601 kilometers per hour, and can carry up to 18 tons of cargo, 92
troops, or 64 paratroopers. The latest version, the C-130J, has a top speed of
644 kilometers, 40 percent more range than the C130H, and can carry 20 tons of
cargo. The C-130 has been in service for over half a century, and is used by
more than 50 countries. AirBus hopes to replace the C-130 in many parts of the
world.
