India is considering the purchase of Russian-Ukrainian four-engine An-70 air transports to provide strategic flexibility. The An-70 is Russias answer to the European A400M (which in turn is presented as a replacement design for the C-130.) The An-70 can carry 30 tons and has a max range of 5,600 kilometers. India has lots of experience with Russian transports, and can expect to get more aircraft for the dollar than with the A400M. --Stephen V Cole