PESCO PROJECTS

Future Medium-size Tactical Cargo (FMTC)

The objective of this project is to increase the air mobility capabilities of the armed forces of EU Member States with the new Future Mid-size Tactical Cargo (FMTC). It seeks to complement the missions of the A400M, including on narrow and short unprepared strips, to face collectively and efficiently the upcoming transport challenges in military operations or crisis response situations.

PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Besides the A400M, which lies on the high-performance side of the airlift spectrum, the majority of other tactical aircrafts (C-130, Casa-295) was designed between thirty to forty years ago. They are no longer sufficient to operate in contemporary operations and fulfil today’s missions.

Thus, a new Future Mid-size Tactical Cargo (FMTC), lighter than the A400M, appears as a necessity. This aircraft could become the workhorse of daily tactical air mobility or more regular transport missions inside operational areas to provide a complementary airlift capacity, based on a ‘family concept’ with the A400M, which was developed to offer a long-range dimension to tactical capabilities.

Therefore, this FMTC project aims at providing the EU defence community (nations and industry) with robust elements to decide what the 2035+ future of EU military tactical medium size transport fleets will be.

OBJECTIVES/PRODUCTS

The objective of this project is to increase the air mobility capabilities of the armed forces of EU Member States. It seeks to complement the missions of the A400M, including on narrow and short unprepared strips, to face collectively and efficiently the upcoming transport challenges in military operations or crisis response situations.