Image source: topwar.ru
The AN-32 military transport aircraft was developed in the USSR specifically for the needs of the Indian army and has been produced at the Antonov Design Bureau since 1982. The moral and technical obsolescence of the fleet of Soviet cars of this type has long caused concern in New Delhi. As a result, a preliminary tender for the supply of AN-32 replacement was announced the other day.
As reported in The Hindu, India has stated that it is looking for a medium-sized transport aircraft with a payload capacity of 18 to 30 tons as a successor to the AN-32 and partially larger Il-76. The "battle" for a potential contract is being led by Lockheed Martin with C-130J-30 Super Hercules, Airbus with A400M Atlas and Embraer with C-390 Millennium. Bidders must offer three supply chains – 40, 60 or 80 boards. The degree of localization of production and readiness for technology transfer play an important role in the competition.
In total, the Indian Air Force operates 103 AN-32; 11 C-17; 12 C-130J 12; 17 IL-76 in the context of transport aviation. In addition, 56 light turboprop CASA C-295s were ordered to replace 57 Hawker Siddeley HS 748m (Avro). All AN-32s underwent modernization under a contract with Ukraine in 2009 in the amount of $ 400 million, having improved avionics and increased the service life of the power plant.
The C-130J Super Hercules with a payload capacity of 20 tons is the last and only version of the Hercules currently being produced, which has been significantly redesigned, including 4 new Rolls-Royce Allison AE21000 turboprop engines and new digital avionics (including HUD displays for both pilots). The improvements made made it possible to reduce the number of crew members. The modernization also led to a reduction in operating costs by more than a quarter and to an increase in the reliability of these machines.
Image source: topwar.ru
The A400M is a four–engine aircraft designed and manufactured by Airbus Military to replace two types of military vehicles used by many armies in Europe - the C-130 Hercules and the Transall C-160. The dimensions of the A400M are between the C-130 and the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III. It can carry loads weighing up to 37 tons, for example, one VBCI infantry fighting vehicle, three VAB armored personnel carriers, a Tiger helicopter or 116 paratroopers with full equipment. The A400M can also be used as a tanker or medical evacuation aircraft after appropriate retrofitting. The machine can use unequipped runways.
The KC-390 was first introduced in October 2014. The main purpose of its development was to create a machine capable of replacing the American C-130 Hercules, surpassing its latest version in TTX. It was designed immediately for use as a tanker thanks to the installation of a refueling system.
The machine is capable of using unpaved airfields and takes up to 23.5 tons of cargo. It can be: six 463L cargo pallets, an armored personnel carrier of the LAV-25 or AMV type, 80 passengers or 64 paratroopers. The powerplant is the International Aero Engines V2500-E5 turbofan engines, used, in particular, on the Airbus-321-200 aircraft. Thanks to them, the Brazilian car reaches a maximum speed of 850 km / h and a flight range of more than 6 thousand km.
