Ecl!pse
Well-Known Member
In order to get that kind of range, from the plane, it will take more than a re-wing. They're going to be putting more auxiliary fuel tanks on this proposed 797 fighter. At the heavy cost to cargo space. That if anything its where the 797 will be more competitive as a clean-sheet design.
What you are referring to is the “A321 XLR” - same A321neo, just with another auxiliary fuel tank in the belly. What @jtrain609 is referring to is an upgrade to the A321 above/beyond that. A new wing that allows for higher takeoff weights (and thus, better range / takeoff performance), and with the added volume in the larger wing you will have greater fuel capacity, so they can remove auxiliary fuel tanks from the belly.
The impact of cargo is usually largely overstated on the internet. And global carriers are split on what this airplane should be capable of from a cargo perspective — Asian carriers want some level of cargo capability, while North American carriers have been pretty vocal about sacrificing cargo for better fuel performance.