Strategic air transportation of outsized cargo

This outcome should contribute to:

• establishing EU autonomy for SATOC;
• EU technological sovereignty and strategic autonomy;
• improving European deployment and sustainment capabilities on a global scale.

Strategic Air transport for Outsized Cargo (SATOC) is a core capability for the rapid projection of military capabilities over long distances and mission support worldwide. All operations carried out so far have always had to fall back on this important capability for deployment and subsequent sustainment. Beyond their military role, SATOC aircraft are also key assets for providing better civilian support for EU-internal needs, including critical and essential contributions to immediate logistic support over large distances, disaster relief and fast general crisis response. However, there is currently no adequate service provider who has the appropriate capability to meet the needs of the Member States and EDF associated countries (Norway). Therefore, this topic proposes to study the possibility of a future aircraft development or the acquisition of an appropriate contractor support.

Specific objective

Strategic airlift requirements and strategic airlift, notably of oversized cargo, have been provided almost entirely by third countries, creating a critical dependency for the EU. The Russia-Ukraine war has significantly reduced the ANTONOV logistics fleet. This has created a looming strategic capability gap in the upcoming years with no clear solutions for a replacement. In addition, a certain degree of uncertainty about the supportability of the remaining fleet constitutes a significant factor. This is true in particular with respect to the availability of replacement parts and replaceable units as well as the availability and integrity of design information, should, for example, new structural issues arise.

In order to preserve European sovereignty and enable global force projection, it is critical to establish a strategic airlift capability by either re-designing / adapting an existing or developing a new solution.

Furthermore, from a European perspective it is of vital importance to underline the fact that strategic airlift capability is not exclusively restricted to military purposes, but is also an asset in various crisis scenarios as well as on humanitarian aid missions.

Based on the Member States and EDF associated countries (Norway) requirements, the objective of this topic is to explore the range of options towards creating a new European SATOC capability. The proposals are to identify, define, and evaluate short-term and lasting strategic airlift solutions. More precisely, the study must map the individual solutions against their respective parameters such as economic or military performance and availability. The study is expected to not only assess re-design options of various existing aircraft and civilian outsized cargo solutions, but also to identify development options, resulting in possibly two different life-cycle timeframes. Furthermore, the platform solutions must also be evaluated in various possible operating schemes, including either the full acquisition of aircraft and/or the provision of services, while taking into consideration the respective certification (military vs. civilian) aspects. It is understood that SATOC will play a support role and not a combat/in-theatre role. The study may involve the identification of potential economies of scale through parallel civilian and military applications (dual-use) of the chosen solution in an effort to reduce the overall development and operating costs associated with a small fleet. The study is to address a possible future operation and service provision from a common military (e.g. NATO’s AWACS base, MMF base) or civilian hub.

The proposals should draft conceptual assessment of options able to achieve initial and possibly partial capability in the short term, and a full capability in-service solution in the next decade. However, the timeline can be accelerated if deemed necessary to meet the requirements of EU Member States and EDF associated countries (Norway). The scope might well consist of a staggered two- (or multi-) fold approach, for example:

• Solution A: desired solution with desired capability and clearly defined IOC/FOC; required to have maximum life cycle;
• Solution B: (interim) solution with less than desired capability and no clearly defined IOC/FOC; required to be supportable and to have a life cycle enabling operations until FOC is reached.

Nevertheless, the key element of this topic will be to establish the feasibility of the common European requirements for this capability, aiming for unity of effort among Member States and EDF associated countries (Norway) in order to create a single platform. This will maximise the cost efficiency of SATOC and also create a basis for interoperability, at least among the Member States and EDF associated countries (Norway).

Types of activities

The following table lists the types of activities which are eligible for this topic, and whether they are mandatory or optional (see Article 10(3) EDF Regulation):

The proposals must cover at least the following tasks as part of the mandatory activities:

Technical studies:

• analysis of the requirements of the Member States and EDF associated countries (Norway) and its translation into potential solutions;
• identification of possible solutions – both short- and long-term – (technical modifications on existing solutions or developments of new solutions) or combination of solutions to best meet the desired capability;
• studies, such as feasibility studies to explore the feasibility of new or improved technologies, products, processes, services and solutions;
• pre-design, including pre-definition of technical specifications and partial tests for risk reduction;
• feasibility analysis of each solution or combination of solutions;
• evaluation of achievable performances and response to operational needs (partially or totally) of each solution or combination of solutions;
• preliminary life cycle analysis.

Operations studies:

• support the drafting of CONOPS for each proposed solution;
• Identification of logistic solutions (in-service support).

Programme studies:

• market analysis to quantify demand across European nations, and export-potential analysis, including civil dual-use applications, and, accordingly, description of the capability. Identification of the potential specific military features of the proposed solutions and analysis of their impact on a potential dual-use civil commercial activity and on profitability;
• definition and analysis of procurement and sustainment models (for example the renting of a flight-hours contingent or the acquisition of the capability), deployment possibilities and associated proposal by an industrial organisation;
• impact of the proposed solutions on infrastructure;
• establishment of the programme schedule, IOC and FOC target dates and pre-development plans;
• conduct of an economic analysis (global cost analysis);
• identification and analysis of risks, including SWOT analysis, related to technical issues, market, implementation, costs, schedule, organisation, operations, maintenance, safety, sovereignty, production and disposal;
• preliminary requirement reviews for each assessed option or combination of options to confirm technical feasibility and programmatic industrial and market impact of the proposed solution to allow the Member States and EDF associated countries (Norway) to assess all elements and identify a preferred option which must be carried forward through a development, manufacturing, and certification phase;
• proposition of the best solution (which could be for example a combination of short-term partial-capability and long-term full-capability solutions), including platform acquisition vs. service provision.

In addition, the proposals should cover the following tasks:

Generating knowledge:

• use of new materials in view of weight reduction and performance increase (composite, hybrid, multifunctional materials, with advanced production technologies);
• use of technologies towards lower or zero emission production and operation;
• application of integrated design and production methods based on the platform's dynamic digital twin concept, to be used in all phases of the platform's life cycle (not only design and construction, but also use, maintenance and dismiss);
• definition of an Integrated System Health Management (ISHM) system to be applied to the platform for an efficient and high availability management of the life cycle and an increase in the overall safety of the aircraft;
• assessment of the integrated survivability characteristics of the platform (also considering the use of physical and electronic deterrence technologies) with respect to the threats identified within the different scenarios defined in the CONOPS.

Functional requirements

The proposed deliverables should fulfil the following common requirements:

• competitive overall flight hours in line with current market solutions (recurring and non-recurring costs);
• ability to transport oversize/overweight loads that do not fit in existing solutions (without significant maintenance act);
• flexibility to operate on different logistics missions (compatible with pelletised cargo);
• ensure fast (with limited turnaround time and limited footprint) and self-contained (autonomous, e.g. roll-on/roll-off or on-board-installed) handling of transported goods (also consider existing/future EU multimodal logistics hubs). This should include:

A) equipment like armoured vehicles, heavy transport helicopters (considered as routine cargo), RPAS;

B) main battle tanks (considered as exceptional cargo, potentially loaded with support of dedicated external equipment, excluding cranes);

• include the transport of goods of all kinds, including dangerous goods as specified by (but not limited to) ICAO TI / IATA Dangerous Goods Regulation (DGR) and optionally forbidden;
• ensure worldwide operations in accordance with all international and national air traffic regulations for all airspaces.