|The capability of how much weight an air transport can carry directly effects designes of all military equipment, from tanks to hummers. It's a trickle down effect. They can't be too heavy or else the transports, well, transport less... which translates into slower reaction time and higher costs.
I know new tank and stryker-like vehicle designes were either turned down or made less effective due to strict weight limits.
So I ask this question: What is the problem? What is it exactly about air transports, that technology doesn't seem to be helping?
What is currently the problem and what will have to be the next technological breakthrough before we can see weight limits dramatically improved?
Is it the structural integrity of the aricraft which is the problem or is it that there are no engines available to provide enough thrust -- and that the solution is a breakthrough new engine design?