RAF confident of complete capability transition to A400M by 2025

RAF confident of complete capability transition to A400M by 2025

Source Node: 2662883

19 May 2023

by Gareth Jennings

The A400M (pictured) is set to becomes the RAF’s sole fixed-wing medium-lift transport aircraft when the C-130J is retired in the coming weeks. The service says it will have transitioned all of the capabilities, including the niche special forces duties, over to the aircraft by 2025. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)

The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) is confident that it can fully transition the niche special operations forces (SOF) capabilities of the Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules to the Airbus A400M Atlas airlifter in the next couple of years, the new service chief said on 17 May.

Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Designate Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Knighton told the House of Commons Defence Committee (HCDC) that the A400M can already perform most of the SOF tasks now undertaken by the soon-to-be-retired C-130J, and that this process will be complete by 2025.


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