There was indeed a report recently about Singapore being interested in the C17. I cannot remember if it came to the point of sharing technical details. This comes at a point in time when the C17 production line is in limbo. It is already known that Boeing is looking for more C17 buyers to sustain the C17 production line. Hence, I am intrigued by the silence that has come since then. We do know that the RSAF plans her procurement properly.
The RSAF has done an excellent job of sustaining the C130s. Sometimes, I think they look brand new when I see them flying around near where Im staying. But we cannot possibly wait till they start falling from the skies could we? There were some upgrades recently but that will conceivably be the last one. I guess that is to sustain the Charlies while we get new transport planes and train our pilots to fly them.
The A400s will take too long in my opinion. So, the choice has to be either the C130Js or C17s.
The C130Js would not be so much a gaint leap from the current Charlies.
Also, im not so sure if they have much in the way of commonalities with our present Charlies. If the the RSAF is to get the C130Js, the RSAF would be better off waiting a few more years to get the A400 given that the
A400 would be slightly better in terms of carriage(?). So it may not be prudent to buy the C-130Js as opposed to the A400s. But we may not have time enough to wait for the A400s.
Conversely, the C17s are so much better in terms of load carriage when compared to both the C-130Js and A400s. The load-factor of the C17s would enable them to carry any equipment the SAF currently has; including the Bionix and the leopard 2s. Like the C130Js, they are readily available now. Add that to Boeing`s desire to sell, marketing ingenuity and strengths, I think it is likely that the C17s will be the RSAF`s latest transport plane. But what do i know
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