The Airbus A400M Atlas and the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III are both military transport aircraft, but they have several key differences:
1. Payload capacity: A400M: 37,000 kg (82,000 lbs) C-17: 170,900 kg (376,000 lbs)
2. Range: A400M: 3,300 nautical miles (6,130 km) C-17: 6,200 nautical miles (11,500 km)
3. Speed: A400M: Mach 0.72 (870 km/h or 541 mph) C-17: Mach 0.85 (965 km/h or 600 mph)
4. Crew: A400M: 2 pilots, 2 navigators, and 1 loadmaster C-17: 3 pilots, 1 navigator
5. Design and construction: A400M: Designed and built by Airbus Military (formerly EADS Military Aircraft), with a similar design to the Airbus A300/A310 civil airliner C-17: Designed and built by Boeing, with a unique design and construction
6. Landing gear: A400M: Retractable landing gear with six wheels C-17: Retractable landing gear with four wheels
7. Cargo compartment: A400M: Large cargo compartment with a volume of 35.4 cubic meters (1,250 cu ft) C-17: Large cargo compartment with a volume of 84.5 cubic meters (2,994 cu ft)
8. Cost: A400M: Estimated cost per unit around $100 million to $120 million C-17: Estimated cost per unit around $250 million to $300 million
9. Avionics: A400M: Equipped with a glass cockpit and modern avionics systems C-17: Equipped with a traditional analog cockpit and modern avionics systems
10. Operating costs: A400M: Lower operating costs compared to the C-17 C-17: Higher operating costs due to its larger size and complexity.
These differences reflect the distinct design goals and requirements of the two aircraft, with the A400M focused on providing a more efficient and affordable transport solution for smaller payloads, while the C-17 is designed to handle larger and heavier payloads over longer distances