Defence Eyes Huge Planes
The Age
Thursday December 15, 2005
THE Australian Defence Force has added several massive transport planes, each of which can carry one of the army's new 60-tonne Abrams tanks, to its Christmas shopping list.
The heavy-lift aircraft, costing more than $200 million each, will give the Defence Force the ability to rapidly deploy overseas a "hardened" force well able to protect itself. Being considered are the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III and the Airbus A400M. This "long-range strategic airlift capability" is central to the Government's strategic defence review to be released today. The Globemaster can carry three times as much cargo weight as the Defence Force's medium-lift transport workhorse, the C-130 Hercules. Other major equipment to be bought includes amphibious landing ships, air warfare destroyers and replacements for the RAAF's ageing F-111 bombers and F/A-18 fighter-bombers. -- BRENDAN NICHOLSON, AAP
© 2005 The Age