France , Germany and Sweden mull replacing C-130 Hercules and CN235 fleets with a new medium-lift transport aircraft by 2040 .

Future Mid-Size Tactical Cargo (FMTC) programme !

To replace the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules and Casa Airbus Defence and Space CN235 fleets by 2040 , France, Germany, and Sweden have agreed develop a new fixed-wing medium-lift transport aircraft !

The project seeks to complement the missions of the Airbus A400M , including on narrow and short unprepared strips, “to face collectively and efficiently the upcoming transport challenges in military operations or crisis response situations.”

Fighter Jet programme :

• At present Europe is home to three competing fighter programmes - France's Rafale, the Eurofighter - used by Germany, Britain, Italy and Spain - and Sweden's Gripen.
• European plane-maker Airbus and France's Dassault have an existing agreement in principle to build a Franco-German multi-role fighter, which is being seen as a future European air combat system.

FMTC programme was launched during the Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace (AAE) - hosted French Presidency of the Council of the European Union (PFUE) European Wings event in June 30.

Representatives of Germany , France and Sweden.

Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace (AAE) statements :

“It was during this event on 23 June that an agreement was signed for the Future Mid-Size Tactical Cargo (FMTC) , a tactical transport aircraft project replacing , by 2040, the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules and Casa CN235 fleets."

" Supported by the European Defence Agency (EDA), this agreement allows the definition of the aircraft intended to operate in addition to the [Airbus DS] A400M fleet from 2040.”

• Airbus A400M is here to stay and France will act as the Co-ordinator of the Project !

“This signature marks a first major step for the FMTC project to converge towards more precise common specifications. Subsequent industrial feasibility studies could lead to the launch of the development of this new aircraft around 2026−27.” 

AAE further clarifies, while France, Germany, and Sweden are the launch country members for the FMTC project , other unspecified countries are participating with more set to join.

Bundeswehr - the armed forces of the Germany received the first out of six C130-J Super Hercules

PESCO projects 

The Permanent Structured Cooperation, or PESCO, is one of the building blocks of the EU’s Defence policy. It was set up in 2017 to enable EU member states to work more closely together in the area of security and defence.

This permanent framework for defence cooperation allows willing and able member states to jointly develop defence capabilities, invest in shared projects, and enhance the operational readiness and contribution of their armed forces.

Credits : Air and Space Force (AAE)