The American aerospace company Radia has announced the development of a new Military transport plane that, by volume capacity, will become the largest in the world. The design focuses on the possibility of moving large equipment No need to disassemble themsomething that is usually inevitable in other heavy cargoer. With this initiative, Radia seeks to respond to what defines as a growing gap in the strategic transport capacity of the Pentagon and its international partners.
The official presentation of the aircraft, baptized as Windrunner for Defensetook place last Friday during the conference Air, Space & Cyber of the Association of the Air Force, held on the outskirts of Washington. This is a Windrunner variant that the company announced last year to Civil useNon -military as Windrunner for Defense. Specifically, to transport giant wind turbines.
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According to the company, the Windrunner has not only been conceived to withstand large weight loads, but has been especially optimized to offer the highest possible volume. This feature will allow you Deliver complete systems and ready for combat on limited or damaged landing tracksa key capacity for the strategy of AGILE COMBAT EMPLOYMENT (ACE). This is an operational concept of the United States Air Force that aims to provide its most flexibility, resilience and survival capacity against enemy attacks.
‘Strategic mobility buys time and space for strength,’ he says in a statement Mark LundstromFounder and CEO of Radia.
‘The Windrunner was designed to move Complete systems, long -range radars, converts, collaborative combat aircraft, campaign hospitals and other complex and large assets, without the need to disassemble them, without requiring additional infrastructures and without slowing down the operations. We do not seek to replace the legendary aircraft they have loaded with weight for decades; Our mission is to strengthen them with a commercial capacity that can be deployed quickly where the commanders require it, ‘adds Lundstrom.
Windrunner, compared to other heavy transport aircraft
Heavy transport aircraft currently currently in service, such as C-5M Galaxyhe C-17 Globemaster III or the A400M ATLASThey usually exhaust the load space before reaching their maximum weight limit, which forces to disassemble bulky equipment or derive their transport to alternative routes. According to Radia, these limitations involve delays in delivery terms, increase the vulnerability of the forces and complicate logistics in combat scenarios or in regions with poor infrastructure.
He Windrunner It has been conceived to overcome these difficulties. Radia ensures that it will provide a load volume equivalent to seven times that of a C-5 already twelve times of a C-17overcoming the 6,800 cubic meters or 6.8 million liters. In addition, the plane will be prepared for roll-on/roll-off operations; that is, the direct load and download of complete systems ready to take action after landing.
The company requires that the aircraft could transport Six ch-47 Chinook helicopters Without disassembling, deploying Four CV-22 Osprey convertiplanes directly in combat zone, or carry Four F-16 or F-35C fighters No need for flight refueling. He also stressed that he will have the capacity to move 12 Apache attack helicopters In a single route (compared to the two Apache that admits a C-17), in addition to offering the possibility of transporting space rockets in a matter of hours Instead of days or recovering Space cargo vehicles for reuse.
Wide variety of missions for which only a track of 1,800 meters needs
He Windrunner is also raised for missions of Special Operations Supportguarantee the mobility of the NATO and their alliesoperate in the Arctic or quickly intervene in scenarios of Natural catastrophes and humanitarian emergencies.
According to Radia, the plane can take off and land on unbalanced tracks of just1,800 meterswhich will allow you to access remote locations, damaged by meteorological or difficult access phenomena, without depending on specialized land support equipment or specific facilities.
The company emphasizes that the Windrunner It does not intend to replace the current heavy transport fleets, but complement them. Radia expects the First flight of this aircraft takes place in 2030.