The acquisition of 22 C-130J SUPER HERCULES (including the KC-130J in-flight refueling version and C-130J-30 elongated fuselage) in the 2003 represented a significant leap in quality for the Air Force's transport capabilities Italian military.
After 15 years of intensive employment, in the various operating theaters that have seen the commitment of the Italian military, it is now time to plan (in the medium term) the placing in service of a new transport aircraft. This need has been felt even more since the Army General Staff decided, rightly, to upgrade the FOLGORE Paratroopers Brigade with the addition of its 3 Regiment SAVOIA CAVALLERIA, equipped with the heavy B-1 CENTAURO armored vehicle.
The C-130J is not able to transport the CENTAUR, as it has a maximum load capacity of 19 tons while the blind is weighed, in combat order, 24.
To allow FOLGORE a rapid deployment - precisely of the paratroopers' specialty - with an adequate fire support provided by CENTNUM 105 / 52 mm, it would be necessary to acquire a strategic transport carrier with high performance.
Since the C-17 GLOBEMASTER III - strategic transport aircraft par excellence - have very high costs, the lower-end alternatives on the market are not many.
The Airbus A-400M still suffers from structural problems and avionics, due also to the long period of development, on paper, however, offers performances well above the SUPER HERCULES.
However, looking outside of Europe, the AMI could orient itself towards the Japanese transport aircraft Kawasaki C-2 (pictured alongside a C-17).
The C-2 is a medium-wing, high-powered biturban transport aircraft with large capacities. The maximum reachable speed is 917 km / h, while the cruising speed is 890 km / h, equal to Mach 0,8. The performance in terms of autonomy is just as interesting as it is able to transport 36 tons of cargo to 4.500 km away. In addition, the most original feature of the Japanese aircraft is the ability to land and take off in a short space. In fact, with a load of 26 tons, it is able to use a track of only 500 meters, against the 770 that would be needed for the A-400M.
An adequate number of transport aircraft of this kind would therefore allow a rapid deployment of CENTAURS (already equipped with additional protection), in order to give the paras a significant firepower.
(photo: US Air Force)
