Germany has identified a need to find a replacement for the Transall transport aircraft and Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen said a decision will be reached this Autumn.
By Camera operator: TSgt. Ken Hammond, USAF [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The Transall will be retired in 2021 and the new Airbus A400M could not perform some of its functions due to its larger size. Germain studies have identified sites with “minimal infrastructure” that the A400M cannot operate from.
Reuters says the Lockheed Martin C-130J is a prime candidate and Germany is either looking at jointly operating the aircraft with France or buy second-hand aircraft from Britain.