The Joint Future European Airlifter (JFEA) program is a tri-nation project being undertaken by France, Germany, and Sweden seeking to develop a "universal" tactical-level transport. The design would be used to succeed the aging lines of American Lockheed C-130 "Hercules" and Spanish CASA CN235 high-winged turbo-prop-powered types set to one day reach their serviceable lives. The new aircraft would retain all of the capabilities inherent in such designs, including short-field / rough-field operation and excellent "low-and-slow" performance, and utilized existing components already being manufactured by Airbus Military for the four-engined A400M "Atlas" strategic transport (thus keeping developmental, procurement, and operational costs in check).
The three nations signed a development agreement announced on June 30th, 2022.
Currently (2022), the C-130 and CN235 are operated by a bevy of global defense forces and notable for this extreme level of versatility - allowing them to operate in most any theater and undertake most any over-battlefield role. The high-winged nature of these designs provides the perfect balance of drag-versus-lift, allowing them to be fielded from short unprepared runways with the same reliability as a hardened runway at a regional airport. A cargo ramp under the empennage provides unfettered access to the hold within where pallets upon pallets can be stored for long-distance journeys.
The airframes of these aircraft have allowed the two designs to see service in the general transport, Search and Rescue (SAR), Electronic Warfare (EW), Maritime Patrol (MP), SPECial OPerationS (SPEOCOPS) support, environmental data collection, hurricane research, and humanitarian mission support roles (among others).
The new European solution would have to match this and, in some cases, exceed its own value in a potentially lucrative emerging market for all-modern tactical airlifters. The aircraft would most certainly have to achieve a better level of success than the Franco-German Transall C-160 of the late-1960s which saw production reach just over 200 units with customers in France, Germany, Indonesia, South Africa, and Turkey and not run into the setbacks suffered in the A400M program.
At this stage, the JFEA program is at its very early stages and this article will be updated as new information allows.
July 2022 - Sweden and Germany have both joined the French-led JFEA initiative.
Power & Performance Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Airbus JFEA Tactical Military Transport Aircraft Project.
2 x Truboprop engines of unknown make, model, and output power driving "scimitar" style propeller blades. Propulsion
Structure The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Airbus JFEA Tactical Military Transport Aircraft Project.
3 (MANNED) Crew
Variants Notable series variants as part of the Airbus Joint Future European Airlifter (JFEA) family line.
JFEA ("Joint Future European Airlifter") - Base Project Name.
Operators Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Airbus Joint Future European Airlifter (JFEA). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.
Total Production: 0 Units Contractor(s): Airbus Military - France / Undisclosed support from Germany and Sweden.
[ France (probable); Germany (probable); Sweden (probable) ]
Similar Developments of similar form-and-function, or related, to the Airbus Joint Future European Airlifter (JFEA) Tactical Military Transport Aircraft Project.
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