July 4,
2008: While Britain has ordered 25 of
the new Airbus A400M tactical transports, to replace the current fleet of
C-130s, the new aircraft won't arrive in time. Delays in the A400M project mean
that new aircraft won't begin arriving until 2011. Meanwhile, nine of the
British C-130Ks (an older model) had to be retired already because of wing
cracks (brought on by heavy use in Iraq and Afghanistan). Another five C-130Ks
are expected to "age out" the same way in the next two years. Most of the 51 British transports are
C-130Ks. Unless use of the C-130Ks in Iraq and Afghanistan is reduced, the
C-130 fleet will be much reduced before they can be replaced by the larger
A400M. Britain plans to make up the shortfall by purchasing or leasing new
C-130Js, renting other transports, and hoping the fighting dies down before the
transports fall apart.
