New twists to Caribou replacement saga

In the wake of the likely cancellation of the US Joint Cargo Aircraft program, Airbus Military has redoubled its marketing campaign efforts to push for an open tender for Australia’s Battlefield Airlifter (BFA) requirement under project AIR 8000 Phase 2.

In a media briefing held in Canberra on March 6, Airbus Military Australia C295 program manager Valentin Merino told journalists that the cancellation of the US JCA program meant many of the advantages in acquiring the Alenia C-27J, the RAAF’s preferred solution for the requirement to replace the retired Caribou capability, were no longer applicable.