UK hunts for A400M boat airdrop capability
A US MC-130J Commando II airdrops a Maritime Craft Aerial Delivery System (MCADS) over the Gulf of Mexico during a training exercise in 2015. (Photo: USAF/ Staff Sgt. Matthew Plew.)
The UK aims to create a new boat airdrop capability for its A400M fleet — it remains to be seen which branch or branches of the armed forces will adopt it.
The UK MoD is calling on industry to provide information on potential solutions to drop large boats from A400M transport aircraft by day or at night, anywhere in the world.
The requirement is for a system capable of launching boats between 8.5-12m long, 2.8-3.5m in the beam, up to 2.2m in height, and weighing 3,800-12,000kg.
In the past, boat airdrop capabilities have been known to have been used by special forces.
The MoD detailed its request in an RfI (last modified on 16 July), in which it stated: 'The User requires the ability to airdrop - select boat types with
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
Read this Article
Get access to this article with a Free Basic Account
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 2 free stories per week
- Daily news round-up email service
- Access to all Decisive Edge email newsletters
Unlimited Access
Access to all our premium news as a Premium News 365 Member. Corporate subscriptions available.
- Original curated content, daily across air, land and naval domains
- 14-day free trial (cancel at any time)
- Unlimited access to all published premium news
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Steel cutting begins on Malaysian corvettes]()
Steel cutting begins on Malaysian corvettes
STM has begun building three corvettes for the Royal Malaysian Navy which are expected to be completed by mid-2028 at a programme cost of US$544 million.
-
![USS Zumwalt undocked after supersonic weapons upgrade]()
USS Zumwalt undocked after supersonic weapons upgrade
The vessel will be the first in the US fleet to carry the Conventional Prompt Strike capability.
-
![Admiral Franchetti acknowledges importance of XLUUVs on Orca visit]()
Admiral Franchetti acknowledges importance of XLUUVs on Orca visit
The US chief of naval operations made the comments on a visit to Boeing’s Orca XLUUV.
-
![USS Arkansas Virginia-class submarine commissioned]()
USS Arkansas Virginia-class submarine commissioned
The last of the Virginia-class Block IV submarines will be commissioned soon.
-
![Exercise Freezing Winds brings navies together to ease Finland into NATO]()
Exercise Freezing Winds brings navies together to ease Finland into NATO
The nine-day exercise off the Finnish coast was intended to boost interoperability in challenging weather conditions.
