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Amilitary transport aircraft,military cargo aircraft orairlifter is amilitary-ownedtransport aircraft used to supportmilitary operations byairlifting troops and military equipment. Transport aircraft are crucial to maintainingsupply lines toforward bases that are difficult to reach byground orwaterborne access, and can be used for both strategic and tactical missions. They are also often used for civilianemergency relief missions by transportinghumanitarian aid.
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Military transport aeroplanes are defined in terms of their range capability asstrategic airlift ortactical airlift to reflect the needs of the land forces which they most often support. These roughly correspond to the commercialflight 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]
Themilitary glider is an unpowered tactical air transport which has been used in some campaigns to transport troops and/or equipment to the battle front.
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 ofUS Marines deploying fromLHDs andLHA. The landing possibilities ofhelicopters are almost unlimited, and where landing is impossible, for example densely packed jungle, the ability of the helicopter to hover allows troops to deploy byabseiling androping.
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 aninfantrysquad orsection and their equipment. Helicopters in the assault role are generally armed for self-protection both in transit and for suppression of thelanding zone. This armament may be in the form ofdoor gunners, or the modification of the helicopter with stub wings andpylons to carrymissiles androcket pods. For example, theSikorsky S-70, fitted with the ESSM (External Stores Support System), and theHip E variant of theMil Mi-8 can carry as much disposable armament as some dedicatedattack helicopters.
Medium transport helicopters are generally capable of moving up to aplatoon of infantry, or transportingtowed artillery orlight 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,CH-46 Sea Knight, andNH90.
Heavy lift helicopters are the largest and most capable of the transport types, currently limited in service to theCH-53 Sea Stallion and relatedCH-53E Super Stallion,CH-47 Chinook,Mil Mi-26, andAérospatiale Super Frelon.[2] Capable of lifting up to 80 troops and moving smallArmoured fighting vehicles (usually as slung loads but also internally), these helicopters operate in thetactical transport role in much the same way as small fixed wingturboprop air-lifters. The lower speed, range and increased fuel consumption of helicopters are offset by their not requiring a runway.
| Country | Aircraft | Payload t | Max takeoff weight kg (lb) | Cargo hold Length m (ft) | Cargo hold Width m (ft) | Cargo hold Height m (ft) | Ferry Range (no payload) km (nmi) | Range with max payload km (nmi) | Range with specified payload km (nmi) | Range with specified payload km (nmi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soviet Union (Ukraine) | Antonov An-225 | 247 | 640,000 (1,410,000) | 43.35 (142.2) | 6.4 (21) | 4.4 (14) | 15,400 (8,300) | 4,000 (2,200)(w/200,000 kg payload) | ||
| Soviet Union (Ukraine) | Antonov An-124 | 150 | 402,000 (886,000) | 36 (118) | 6.4 (21) | 4.4 (14) | 14,000 (7,600) | 3,700 (2,000) | 8,400 (4,500)(w/80,000 kg payload) | 11,500 (6,200)(w/40,000 kg payload) |
| United States | Lockheed C-5 Galaxy | 129.274 | 381,018 (840,001) | 37 (121) | 5.8 (19) | 4.1 (13) | 13,000 (7,000) | 4,260 (2,300) | 8,900 (4,800)(w/54,431 kg payload) | |
| Soviet Union (Ukraine) | Antonov An-22[3] | 80 | 250,000 (550,000) | 32.7 (107) | 4.44 (14.6) | 4.44 (14.6) | 5,000 (2,700) | 10,950 (5,910)(w/45,000 kg payload) | ||
| United States | Boeing C-17[4] | 77.5 | 265,352 (585,001) | 26.83 (88.0) | 5.49 (18.0) | 3.76 (12.3) | 11,540 (6,230) | 4,482 (2,420)(w/71,000 kg payload) | ||
| China | Xi'an Y-20 | 66 | 220,000 (490,000) | 20 (66) | 4 (13) | 4 (13) | 7,800 (4,200)(w/55,000 kg payload) | |||
| Soviet Union (Uzbekistan) | Ilyushin Il-76 | 60 | 190,000 (420,000) | 24.54 (80.5) | 3.45 (11.3) | 3.4 (11) | 9,300 (5,000) | 4,400 (2,400)(w/52,000 kg payload) | ||
| Europe | Airbus A330 MRTT[5] | 45 | 233,000 (514,000) | 45 (148) | 5.28 (17.3) | 2.54 (8.3) | 14,816 (8,000) | |||
| Europe | Airbus A400M | 37 | 141,000 (311,000) | 17.71 (58.1) | 4 (13) | 3.85 (12.6) rear section：4 (13) | 8,900 (4,800) | 3,300 (1,800) | 4,500 (2,400)(w/30,000 kg payload) | 6,400 (3,500)(w/20,000 kg payload) |
| Japan | Kawasaki C-2 | 36 | 141,000 (311,000) | 16 (52) | 4 (13) | 4 (13) | 9,800 (5,300) | 4,500 (2,400) | 5,700 (3,100)(w/30,000 kg payload) | 7,600 (4,100)(w/20,000 kg payload) |
| Brazil | Embraer C-390 | 26 | 86,999 (191,800) | 18.5 (61) | 3.00 (9.84) | 3.04 (10.0) | 6,240 (3,370) | 2,000 (1,100) | 2,720 (1,470)(w/23,000 kg payload) | 5,020 (2,710)(w/14,000 kg payload) |
| China | Shaanxi Y-9[6] | 23 | 65,000 (143,000) | 16.2 (53) | 3.2 (10) | 2.35 (7.7) | 5,800 (3,100) | |||
| Soviet Union | Mil Mi-26[7] | 20 | 56,000 (123,000) | 12 (39) | 3.3 (11) | 2.9 (9.5) | 800 (430) | |||
| United States | Lockheed Martin C-130J[4] | 19.8 | 70,370 (155,140) | 12.5 (41) | 3.05 (10.0) | 2.75 (9.0) | 3,334 (1,800) | 3,300 (1,800)(w/15,422 kg payload) | ||
| Ukraine | Antonov An-178 | 16 (18 max) | 51,000 (112,000) | 13.21 (43.3) | 2.73 (9.0) | 2.73 (9.0) | 5,500 (3,000) | |||
| United States | Sikorsky CH-53K | 15.876 | 39,916 (88,000) | 9.14 (30.0) | 2.46 (8.1) | 2 (6.6) | 1,851 (999) | 850 (460) | 203 (110)(radius w/1,2247 kg) | |
| Italy | Alenia C-27J Spartan[8] | 11.6 max | 32,500 (71,700) | 11.43 (37.5) | 3.33 (10.9) | 2.59 (8.5) | 5,926 (3,200) | 1,759 (950) | 5,056 (2,730)(w/4,536 kg payload) | |
| United States | Boeing CH-47 Chinook[9] | 10.886 | 24,494 (54,000) | 9.14 (30.0) | 2.53 (8.3) | 1.98 (6.5) | 2,252 (1,216) | 740 (400) | 306 (165)(combat radius) | |
| United States | Boeing V-22 Osprey | 10 | 27,442 (60,499) | 7.41 (24.3) | 1.8 (5.9) | 1.83 (6.0) | 4,130 (2,230) | 1,628 (879)(w/3,485 kg payload) | ||
| Spain | CASA C295 | 7 (9.25 max) | 23,200 (51,100) | 12.69 (41.6) | 2.7 (8.9) | 1.9 (6.2) | 5,000 (2,700) | 1,555 (840) | 4,587 (2,477)(w/2,940 kg payload) |
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