Military transport aircraft

Size comparison :

Military transport aircraft or military cargo aircraft are typically fixed wing and rotary wing cargo aircraft which are used to airlift troops, weapons and other military equipment by a variety of methods to any area of military operations around the surface of the planet, usually outside the commercial flight routes in uncontrolled airspace. Originally derived from bombers, military transport aircraft were used for delivering airborne forces during World War II and towing military gliders. Some military transport aircraft are tasked to perform multi-role duties such as aerial refueling and, rescue missions, tactical, operational and strategic airlifts onto unprepared runways, or those constructed by engineers.

Fixed-wing

Fixed-wing transport aircraft are defined in terms of their range capability as strategic airlift or tactical airlift to reflect the needs of the land forces which they most often support. These roughly correspond to the commercial flight length distinctions: Eurocontrol defines short-haul routes as shorter than 1,500 km (810 nmi), long-haul routes as longer than 4,000 km (2,200 nmi) and medium-haul between.[1]

A more specialised role of a cargo aircraft is that of transporting fuel in support of other aircraft with more limited flight endurance such as fighters or helicopters. Smaller cargo aircraft, known as "utility", are often used to transport military communications equipment as temporary or permanent platforms, and in the command role by providing airborne command post or as an air ambulance.

Transports and tankers

TypeCountryRoleIntroduction Date Number BuiltPayload (t)Maximum Take-Off Weight (t)Cruise Speed (km/h)Service Ceiling (m)Range (km)Image
Aeritalia G.222ItalyTactical1978 1119284397,6201,371
Airbus A310 MRTTEuropean UnionStrategic / Tank2003 3616485012,5306,500
Airbus A330 MRTTEuropean UnionStrategic / Tank2007 4522386013,00014,800
Airbus A400MEuropean UnionStrategic / Tactical2009 673714178012,2009,300
Alenia C-27J SpartanItalyTactical2008 10111.531.85839,1445,926
Antonov An-8 CampUkraineTactical1958 15111884809,6002,780
Antonov An-12 CubUkraineTactical1959 1248206167010,2005,700
Antonov An-14 ClodUkraineTactical / Utility1966 33273.61805,000650
Antonov An-22 AnteiUkraineStrategic / Tactical1965 688025074010,2005,000
Antonov An-26 CurlUkraineTactical1969 14035.5244407,5002,550
Antonov An-28 CashUkraineTactical / Utility1986 1912.582707,6201,500
Antonov An-32 ClineUkraineTactical1976 3616.726.94809,5002,500
Antonov An-72 CoalerUkraineTactical1977 1957.53360010,1004,800
Antonov An-124 RuslanUkraineStrategic1982 55150405800-85012,0005,410
Antonov An-70UkraineStrategic / Tactical1994 24714572912,0006,600
Antonov An-178UkraineTactical2015 1184280013,0005,500
Antonov/Taqnia An-132Ukraine/Saudi ArabiaTactical2016 9.228.55509,0004,400
Armstrong Whitworth AW.660 ArgosyUnited KingdomStrategic / Tactical1960 7213484077,0105,552
Avro YorkUnited KingdomStrategic / Tactical1944 2599.129.43227,0104,800
Avro Vulcan K.2United KingdomTank1984 136931053.514,000-17,000
Beechcraft C-12 HuronUnited StatesTactical / Utility1974 2537510,6683,185
Bell Boeing V-22 OspreyUnited StatesTactical1989 200+6.827.43967,6201,627
Boeing 247/C-73United StatesStrategic / Tactical1942 6.23047,6201,200
Boeing C-108 Flying FortressUnited StatesStrategic / Tactical1943 (prototype only) 53029310,8503,219
Boeing KB-29 SuperfortressUnited StatesTank1948 5.46250712,0003,710
Boeing C-97 StratofreighterUnited StatesStrategic / Tank1951 8889.17948210,6706,920
Boeing KB-50 SuperfortressUnited StatesTank1956 5.46250712,0003,710
Boeing KC-135 StratotankerUnited StatesStrategic / Tank1956 80337.614685315,20017,766
Boeing YC-14United StatesTactical1976 (prototype only) 31.413372313,7165,136
Boeing VC-25United StatesVIP transport1990 37592513,70013,000
Boeing C-17 Globemaster IIIUnited StatesStrategic / Tactical1991 27977.526583013,71610,390
Boeing C-32United StatesVIP transport1998 11685113,0007,250
Boeing C-40 ClipperUnited StatesStrategic2001 187883812,5005,600
Boeing KC-767United StatesStrategic / Tank2005 29.518285112,20011,830
Boeing KC-46 PegasusUnited StatesStrategic / Tank2013 29.518285112,20011,830
British Aerospace 125United KingdomVIP transport1965 1174712,5002,891
British Aerospace 146United KingdomVIP transport1986 97.574711,0003,870
Britten-Norman BN-2 IslanderUnited KingdomTactical / Utility1965 232574,0241,400
Canadair North StarCanadaStrategic / Tactical1946 53352310,9706,212
Canadair CL-44/CC-106 YukonCanadaStrategic / Tactical1960 956709,1008,990
Canadair CC-109 CosmopolitanCanadaTactical1960 6.4245187,6203,660
CASA C-212 AviocarSpainTactical / Utility1971 2.883157,9251,433
CASA CN-235SpainTactical1983 515.15097,6205,003
Cessna Citation V/UC-35United StatesVIP transport1987 7.379613,7153,650
Consolidated C-87 Liberator ExpressUnited StatesStrategic / Tactical1942 4.5253468,5005,311
Consolidated R2YUnited StatesStrategic / Tactical1944 (prototype only) 5.5293808,5006,400
Convair XC-99United StatesStrategic1949 (prototype only) 45145.53709,15013,041
Convair C-131 SamaritanUnited StatesTactical1950 214097,470750
Curtiss C-46 CommandoUnited StatesStrategic / Tactical1941 6.8202787,4685,069
de Havilland Canada DHC-4 CaribouCanadaTactical1958 3.614.23487,5592,103
de Havilland Canada DHC-5 BuffaloCanadaTactical1965 8.222.39,4501,112
de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin OtterCanadaTactical / Utility1966 5.52787,6201,434
Douglas DC-2/C-32United StatesStrategic / Tactical1937 82786,9301,750
Douglas C-47 SkytrainUnited StatesStrategic / Tactical1941 310.53608,0452,600
Douglas C-54 SkymasterUnited StatesStrategic / Tactical1942 333106,8006,400
Douglas C-74 GlobemasterUnited StatesStrategic1945 22786,4905,470
Douglas C-47 Skytrain/C-117 SkytrainUnited StatesStrategic / Tactical1951 310.53608,0452,600
Douglas C-118 LiftmasterUnited StatesStrategic / Tactical1947 12.748.55075,4606,700
Douglas C-124 Globemaster IIUnited StatesStrategic1950 44888.23706,64510,975
Douglas C-133 CargomasterUnited StatesStrategic1956 5053.51305199,8006,590
EADS CASA C-295SpainTactical1998 9.323.24819,1005,400
Embraer KC-390BrazilTactical2014 237290010,9736,200
Fairchild C-82 PacketUnited StatesTactical1944 12.524.53516,4606,239
Fairchild C-119 Flying BoxcarUnited StatesTactical1949 12.533.53227,3002,849
Focke-Wulf Fw 200 CondorGermanyStrategic / Tactical1937 233356,0003,560
Fokker F27 FriendshipNetherlandsTactical1958 204607,6202,055
Fokker 50NetherlandsTactical1985 235307,6201,666
Grumman C-1 TraderUnited StatesCarrier Onboard Delivery1952 1.613.24626,7002,092
Grumman C-2 GreyhoundUnited StatesCarrier Onboard Delivery1964 4.524.746510,2102,400
Gulfstream III/C-20United StatesVIP transport1980 31.581813,7166,760
Handley Page HastingsUnited KingdomStrategic / Tactical1948 936.24688,1002,720
Handley Page Victor K.2United KingdomTank1965 9317,0009,660
Harbin Y-12ChinaTactical / Utility1983 5.52507,0001,340
Ilyushin Il-12 CoachRussiaTactical1946 176,5001,500
Ilyushin Il-14 CrateRussiaTactical1954 187,4001,300
Ilyushin Il-76 CandidRussiaStrategic / Tactical1971 9604717090013,0004,400
Ilyushin Il-78 MidasRussiaTank1971 534717090013,0004,400
Ilyushin Il-76-MD-90ARussiaStrategic / Tactical2013 6021085013,0004,000
Ilyushin Il-78M-90ARussiaTank2017 4717090013,0004,400
Ilyushin Il-112RussiaTactical2011 5.9205507,6005,000
Ilyushin Il-276RussiaTactical2025 (planned) 2015.880013,0002,000
Junkers Ju 52GermanyStrategic / Tactical1930 2112115,490800
Junkers Ju 89GermanyStrategic / Tactical1938 (prototype only) 1.5297,0002,980
Junkers Ju 90GermanyStrategic / Tactical1937 333205,7501,247
Junkers Ju 290GermanyStrategic / Tactical1942 3506,0006,150
Junkers Ju 390GermanyStrategic1943 (prototype only) 75.56,0009,700
Kawasaki Ki-56JapanStrategic / Tactical1940 88,0003,300
Kawasaki C-1JapanTactical1970 11.94565711,5801,300
Kawasaki C-2JapanTactical2010 37.612089012,2006,500
Learjet C-21United StatesVIP transport1973 877413,7005,295
Lisunov Li-2Soviet UnionStrategic / Tactical1939 310.53608,0452,600
Lockheed Model 18 LodestarUnited StatesStrategic / Tactical1940 103227,7404,025
Lockheed C-69 ConstellationUnited StatesStrategic / Tactical1943 335047,6293,900
Lockheed C-121 ConstellationUnited StatesStrategic / Tactical1948 48.55127,4504,445
Lockheed R6V ConstitutionUnited StatesStrategic1946 (prototype only) 83.44188,7008,670
Lockheed C-130 HerculesUnited StatesTactical / Tank1954 2500+20.470.354010,0603,800
Lockheed JetStar/C-140United StatesVIP transport1961 2081113,1054,820
Lockheed C-141 StarlifterUnited StatesStrategic / Tactical1963 28528.414791212,5009,880
Lockheed C-5 GalaxyUnited StatesStrategic1968 13112238190710,6004,445
Lockheed TriStar (RAF)United StatesStrategic / Tank1984 13689413,0007,785
Lockheed Martin C-130J Super HerculesUnited StatesTactical / Tank1996 4019-2070.3-74.36438,6153,334
McDonnell Douglas C-9United StatesStrategic1968 5081111,0004,700
McDonnell Douglas YC-15United StatesTactical1975 (prototype only) 35988729,1444,810
McDonnell Douglas KC-10 ExtenderUnited StatesStrategic / Tank1980 7726890812,80018,507
Messerschmitt Me 323GermanyStrategic / Tactical1943 10432184,000800
Mitsubishi Ki-57JapanStrategic / Tactical1942 98,0003,000
Nakajima Ki-34JapanStrategic / Tactical1937 53107,0001,200
PZL M-28 SkytruckPolandTactical / Utility1993 2.582707,6201,500
Nord NoratlasFranceTactical1953 12.5213207,1002,500
Savoia-Marchetti SM.81ItalyStrategic / Tactical1935 210.55507,0001,500
Shaanxi Y-8ChinaTactical1974 206155010,2005,616
Shaanxi Y-9ChinaTactical2008 257765010,2007,800
Short BelfastUnited KingdomStrategic1964 551045419,1448,528
Short SkyvanUnited KingdomTactical / Utility1963 55.63176,8581117
Short C-23 SherpaUnited KingdomTactical / Utility1982 3.23.22965,1141,239
Showa/Nakajima L2DJapanStrategic / Tactical1939 310.53608,0452,600
Transall C-160France/GermanyTactical1963 2141649.251310,0608,230
Vickers ValettaUnited KingdomStrategic / Tactical1948 316.52776,5502,350
Vickers Valiant B(K).1/B(PR)K.1United KingdomTank1958 6416,5007,245
Vickers VC10United KingdomStrategic / Tank1965 15113,1059,412
Xian HY-6ChinaTank1995 18097976812,8006,000
Xian Y-20ChinaStrategic / Tactical2013 106622090013,0007,800

Rotary wing

Military transport helicopters are used in places where the use of conventional aircraft is impossible. For example, the military transport helicopter is the primary transport asset of US Marines deploying from LHDs and LHA. The landing possibilities of helicopters are almost unlimited, and where landing is impossible, for example densely packed jungle, the ability of the helicopter to hover allows troops to deploy by abseiling and roping.

Transport helicopters are operated in assault, medium and heavy classes. Air assault helicopters are usually the smallest of the transport types, and designed to move an infantry squad or section and their equipment. Helicopters in the assault role are generally armed for self-protection both in transit and for suppression of the landing zone. This armament may be in the form of door gunners, or the modification of the helicopter with stub wings and pylons to carry missiles and rocket pods. For example, the Sikorsky S-70, fitted with the ESSM (External Stores Support System), and the Hip E variant of the Mil Mi-8 can carry as much disposable armament as some dedicated attack helicopters. The assault helicopter can be thought of as the modern successor to the military glider. Finally, there is the generic term utility helicopter, which generally refers to medium-lift designs.

Not all militaries are able to operate a full range of transport helicopters, so the medium transport type is probably the most useful compromise and probably the most common specialist transport type. Medium transport helicopters are generally capable of moving up to a platoon of infantry and are capable of being able to transport towed artillery or light vehicles either internally or as underslung roles. Unlike the assault helicopter they are usually not expected to land directly in a contested landing zone, but are used to reinforce and resupply landing zones taken by the initial assault wave. Examples include the unarmed versions of the Mil Mi-8, Super Puma, and CH-46 Sea Knight.

Heavy lift helicopters are the largest and most capable of the transport types, currently limited in service to the CH-53 Sea Stallion and related CH-53E Super Stallion, CH-47 Chinook, Mil Mi-26, and Aérospatiale Super Frelon. Capable of lifting up to 80 troops and moving small Armoured fighting vehicles (usually as slung loads but also internally), these helicopters operate in the tactical transport role in much the same way as small fixed wing turboprop air-lifters. The lower speed, range and increased fuel consumption of helicopters are more than compensated by their ability to operate virtually anywhere.

Transport and utility helicopters

TypeCountryIntroduction DatePayload (t)Maximum Take-Off Weight (t)Cruise Speed (km/h)Service Ceiling (m)Range (km)Image
Aérospatiale SA 321 Super FrelonFrance19665132663,1501,020
Aérospatiale SA 330 PumaFrance196872484,800580
AgustaWestland AW109Italy19763285920
AgustaWestland AW101/EH-101Italy19998.5152784,575833
AgustaWestland AW139Italy200373066,0961,250
AgustaWestland AW149Italy200392786,096800
AgustaWestland AW159 WildcatItaly20141.56777
AgustaWestland CH-149 CormorantItaly20008.5152784,575833
Atlas OryxSouth Africa198782487,162303
Bell UH-1 IroquoisUnited States19591.74.32015,910507
Bell UH-1N Twin HueyUnited States19704.72075,273460
Bell UH-1Y VenomUnited States200838.32506,100
Boeing Vertol CH-46 Sea KnightUnited States19642.2115,1801,020
Boeing Vertol CH-47 ChinookUnited States196211232966,100370
Changhe Z-8China19945132663,1501,020
Changhe Z-18China20145132666,0001,020
Eurocopter AS365 DauphinFrance19781.54.32604,500572
Eurocopter AS532 CougarFrance19781.592393,450572
Eurocopter AS565 PantherFrance198624.32605,865572
Eurocopter EC225 Super Puma/Airbus Helicopters H225France20045.5112615,900857
Eurocopter EC725/Airbus Helicopters H225MFrance20055.5112615,900857
Harbin Z-9China19941.54.32604,500572
IAR 330Romania19757.52716,000572
Mil Mi-8Russia19674132304,500610
Mil Mi-17Russia19774132306,100610
Mil Mi-26Russia19772061.72554,600800
NHIndustries NH90European Union20072.5116,000800
Sikorsky UH-60 Black HawkUnited States19794102805,790590
Westland LynxItaly19781.55.5528

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Study into the impact of the global economic crisis on airframe utilisation" (PDF). Eurocontrol. January 2011. p. 21.

Further reading

  • Richard Aboulafia (Jun 7, 2018). "Opinion: Why Military Transports Are Less Popular Than You'd Expect". Aviation Week & Space Technology.
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