The C-17 has a rough field capability. You're correct though; the A400M was intended to fill a position between the C-17 at the high end, and the C-130 at the

The C-17 has a rough field capability. You're correct though; the A400M was intended to fill a position between the C-17 at the high end, and the C-130 at the low end. The issues arose when it later became clear that there may not have been as much of a market for slot as originally envisioned. The C-17 handles vehicles easier than the A400M (where there's lower than expected weight restrictions on what can be carried) while not providing the savings expected for palatalized cargo that the newest models of the C-130(J) can handle. So it's being pressed from both sides. Of course, the C-17 had teething problems in the beginning. But it benefited from a better environment at the time. In any case, big item procurement is an utter mess these days. The money is drying up fast after the end of the cold-war, and the inefficient and wasteful structure that thrived during that time can no longer do so. So we get massively overpriced and delayed equipment.