Most armed forces, including those of the major powers, are equipped with transport aircraft of the 1960s and 1970s vintage that are technologically obsolete and operationally inadequate

Less glamorous than the fighter fleet, military transport aircraft are a vital constituent of the inventory of the land and air forces of a nation. Yet, these are accorded lower priority and less budgetary support with little publicity. During the last two decades, inter-theatre war-fighting, peacekeeping and humanitarian interventions have become the order of the day. The need is for swift response at short notice, often over long distances, hauling bulky stores both military and civil. Such missions are often against ill-defined threats or in the midst of the unbelievable chaos in the aftermath of natural disasters. In this age of shrinking military budgets, strict financial limits also need to be maintained.

Crises often reveal glaring deficiencies in contingency planning with air transport capability lagging woefully behind. Much of the soul-searching following November’s carnage in Mumbai revolved around why it took so long for the National Security Guard (NSG) commandos based near Delhi, to reach the scene of action. The government has now sanctioned dedicated transport fleet for the NSG.

Looming Crisis, Worldwide
Most armed forces including those of the major powers are equipped with transport aircraft of the 1960s and 1970s vintage that are technologically obsolete and operationally inadequate. The current global military transport fleet consists of more than 2,300 tactical airlift aircraft with an average age of 26 years and around 50 strategic airlift aircraft of which most are operated by the US and the Commonwealth of Independent States. The ubiquitous Lockheed Martin C-130, for instance, began production in 1954. It is strange, therefore, that the last two decades have seen the launch of just three new designs In military transport aircraft: the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III, the EADS-CASA C-295 and, last year, Alenia’s C-27J Spartan.

Airbus’s own much-awaited A400M has been dogged by delays and is yet to get airborne. Indeed, the state of the military air transport fleets of the major powers is rather depressing. The American scene appears particularly bleak. The global war on terror has sharply accelerated aircraft utilisation rates, yet plans to induct new aircraft seem lost somewhere in the political labyrinth. The C-17 Globemaster III remains the backbone of US inter-theatre transport operations around the world. Its ability to operate from shorter and unprepared runways makes it especially valuable. Improvements in the C-130J Super Hercules, which entered production in 1997, have improved the plane’s range, cruise ceiling, time to climb, speed and airfield requirements. Yet, the trend in airlift demand is likely to place a premium on aircraft that can carry more than a C-130J. Consequently, the levels of C-17 flight hours remain well above USAF projections, and are likely to continue being so. Some experts say this would shorten the C-17 fleet’s expected lifespan by five years. Some even predict a US airlift crisis in the coming decade.

Stretched by the demands of the war on terror, particularly the frequent need to land on unpaved airstrips, the RAF is badly affected by the revised delivery schedule of the Airbus A400M. The 25 new planes on order that were to arrive in 2010, will be delivered in 2012. Meanwhile, NATO has been trying to make good its shortfall in strategic airlift. In March 2006, under the Strategic Airlift Interim Solution, NATO put a multinational airlift contract into effect. Six Antonov An-124-100 strategic airlift aircraft, leased from Russia, will be available to 15 NATO members. NATO also plans to buy three C-17s. Member countries will receive allocated flight hours relative to their participation. This pool would enhance Europe’s defence capabilities through the new heavy lift aircraft. Side-by-side, the European Air Transport Fleet initiative, which could enter operation in 2014, will pool aircraft like the A400M and the C-130J.