The A400 is an expensive aircraft to procure. Its propulsion offers some potential...affordable cost per flying hour figures; assuming the prop/gear/turbine system design holds out over the long haul.
As the USAF becomes more difficult to manage with less return on investment every year, I could see the A400 being valuable for future Army Aviation Battalions.
In any number one sees fit.
Non-anti-access operations make up most of what the U.S. DOD performs.
Rangers (spoiler alert, I want to have 3 Ranger Regiments as the only para-capable troops not counting other specfors); natural disaster response; and a variety of theater airlift duties could be done well by this aircraft.
With many Airbus-cockpit-crew qualified civilian pilots, the A400 would also work well in a Reserve or National Guard setup ("Hey, I know this cockpit performance management system").
I think all of us can think of many reasons why the A400 won't be in U.S. service. However I believe there are some good reasons for it to be there in the future.
Enjoy this flight review of the aircraft that shows some interesting performance numbers.
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