§ Mr. BluntTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his estimate is of the difference in planned expenditure between the 25th(a) A400M aircraft for the RAF and (b) C130J aircraft over the lifetime of the programme; and what the in-service date would be of the last aircraft. [28366]
§ Dr. MoonieAny cost comparisons between these two aircraft are misleading because they provide different capabilities and their in-service dates are 10 years apart. For example, we expect that the A400M will have a 50 per cent, greater payload capacity and provide the RAF with a new capability to carry outsize loads too. We estimate that the acquisition costs of the A400M are approximately £1.6 billion (40 per cent.) greater (on an outturn basis) than those of the C130J. However, the difference at current prices is approximately £0.5 billion (12 per cent.).
918WThe final C130J was accepted into service in June 2001 and we expect the 25th A400M to be delivered in 2014.