A new tilt to Air 8000?

With the V-22 Osprey tiltrotor transport soon to be deployed operationally for the first time with the US Marine Corps after a protracted 20 year development, it may be timely for the ADF’s Air 8000 and Air 9000 planners to take a second look at this revolutionary aircraft.

Firstly, it should be made clear that there is currently no active (or public) project or requirement for a V-22 type capability in the ADF. The Air 8000 Phases 1 and 2 Caribou and C-130H replacement programs are believed to have been more or less settled in favour of acquiring 12 to 14 Alenia C-27Js and possibly a few extra C-130Js. Meanwhile over at Air 9000 Phase 5, it is likely an additional three or four newbuild CH-47F Chinooks will be acquired for Army to augment the six CH-47Ds currently in service. The looming federal election, deployment timings, and manning issues are believed to be the only things holding these announcements back.