Luftwaffe not happy with A400

[Alanm28]

Greetings
Are the Luftwaffe unhappy with the A400m , as I don’t understand why the have bought C130’s?
In days of saving costs ,a single fleet , is more effective etc. One set of training facilities

Al

[Northsky]

The Luftwaffe are operating a joint fleet df C-130 with France the French also use C-130 and A400m . Its only the Uk that always need to cut cost and also loose capabilities.

[Kurnass]

The reasoning behind it is (for a part), that you don’t need a semi-truck to deliver a package.
The Luftwaffe is, after a few years of problems, quite satisfied with the A400. But they found out that when they scrap the C-160, that the smallest cargo plane they have is the A400. And they wanted something for smaller cargo also. For some cargo the A400 is just overkill.
Spain, Turkey, France and Malaysia also have smaller cargo planes next to the A400.
Just the RAF doesn’t….

[dotwatcher01]

.......but the R.A.F. does have something they don't, the C-17A. Presumably when it absolutely positively has to be there overnight they use something cheaper & more reliable (cleft sticks?).

[Alanm28]

forgot about the 17’s , for the RAF and a valid point on them losing the 160’s

[Rob666]

I understand the C-130’s are to be used for Special Forces operations.

[Finty]

Might be worth changing the thread title as we don’t know for a fact that the Germans are not happy with the A400…

[Andyph]

One of the main drivers was the A400 struggles to be a tanker for Helicopters - it's why half the German/French fleet with be tankers.