Transport Aircraft (Hansard, 15 March 2000)

§ Dr. Moonie

This is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Robert Walmsley to Mr. Lindsay Hoyle, dated 15 March 2000: I am replying to your questions to the Secretary of State for Defence in which you ask how many Puma helicopters the Antonov 124–100 and Boeing C-17 aircraft can carry and what is the range of the Boeing C-17 and Antonov 124–100 with a full payload, without refuelling. This matter falls within my area of responsibility as Chief of Defence Procurement and Chief Executive of the Defence Procurement Agency. We have carried four Puma helicopters in the Antonov An 124–100 and on the basis of information publicly available the Boeing C-17 is capable of carrying three, although some disassembly of the helicopters is required in both cases. On the basis of information publicly available, the C-17 has an approximate un-refuelled range of 2400nm, at a maximum payload capability of 77 tonnes and the military limit of 2.25g, whereas the Antonov An 124–100 has an un-refuelled range of 1790nm, at a maximum payload capability of 120 tonnes and the civil limit of 2.5g.