Il convient de mettre un terme définitif à l’illusion abondamment diffusée de « l’A400M, avion stratégique ».
Par sa capacité d’emport maximale (deux containers TC20 contre 11 pour l’Antonov 124), l’A400M avion ne peut être une solution pour le transport stratégique de fret. Il ne rivalisera jamais avec les gros porteurs, An-124 ou C5. Un Antonov 124 équivaut à 5 A400M
Rough translation, by me.
A400M is not a strategic airlifter and we need to stop consider it this way.
It can load 2 TC20 containers when an AN124 loads 11. It can't be a strategic airlifter. It will never compete against AN124 or C5. 1 AN124 lifts the same as 5 A400M.
http://www.francois.cornut-gentille.fr/ ... egique.pdf
I'm not sure why he see the needs to evaluate the airlift with TC20 containers. Is this a standard in military transport?
And this shouldn't come as a surprise that A400M is not in the same weight category than AN124 or C5, but claiming 1:5 when max payload come close to 1:3 seems exaggerated. Maybe range consideration change a lot the result and I'm not sure if the guy tries to manipulate numbers and discard A400M directly to suit his agenda (france too much dependent of the rusian/ukranian strategic airlift).
Any thoughts?