US Coast Guard Grounds C-27 Fleet Over Severe Structural Cracks, Manufacturer Warns of Global Impact

The U.S. Coast Guard has grounded its entire fleet of 14 C-27J Spartan maritime patrol aircraft due to structural cracking issues, significantly reducing the Coast Guard's capabilities in surveillance and light transport. This grounding occurred after Leonardo, the aircraft's manufacturer, issued an Alert Service Bulletin prompting inspections for cracks in specific areas of the aircraft.

After inspections, all 14 C-27J aircraft were found to have varying degrees of cracks. Leonardo assured they had identified a repair solution, claiming that it would not significantly impact aircraft operations. However, the Coast Guard stated that the fleet will remain grounded until a thorough evaluation and necessary fixes are completed.

The implications of this grounding are substantial, particularly in the Pacific, where these aircraft are crucial for the Coast Guard's drug interdiction, disaster response, and search-and-rescue missions. While the Coast Guard is evaluating its aviation strategy to address the grounding, the U.S. Army's C-27J fleet has not experienced similar issues.

This problem with the C-27J could have international implications, as around 17 countries operate approximately 90 of these aircraft. Extended safety stand-downs and repair processes may disrupt transport and maritime surveillance missions worldwide.

The cause of the fleet-wide inspections is unclear, and this incident appears unrelated to a recent hard landing by a Chadian Air Force C-27J. However, the issue may have been identified within the tight-knit Spartan operational community, where operational stressors might have accelerated the discovery of these problems.

The C-27J's history in the U.S. has been troubled since its introduction in 2008, with past temporary groundings due to mechanical issues. The aircraft's challenges, along with bureaucratic complexities and limited operational utilization, have hindered its success.

Moreover, the delay in mission system development and reports of numerous technical problems, including fuel leaks and structural defects, have plagued the C-27J program. The aircraft's availability has also been an issue in the past, with extended groundings affecting its operation.

This grounding arrives amidst a challenging time for the Coast Guard, facing cuts to its cutter fleet, relying on maritime patrol aircraft for operational efficiency. If a prolonged grounding occurs, it could affect global operations, especially in the Pacific, where the Coast Guard and Australia extensively use these aircraft.

Australia, experiencing similar reliability and spare parts challenges with their C-27J fleet, employs the aircraft for critical missions, including disaster relief and surveillance in remote areas. The potential grounding of Australia's fleet could have significant ramifications for Pacific security.

While the C-27J shows promise when operational, the aircraft's persistent issues may endanger its future in the U.S. The Coast Guard, already grappling with personnel and budgetary constraints, might reconsider its reliance on the C-27J, possibly exploring alternatives such as a fleet of C-130Js.

Ultimately, the ongoing grounding could prompt the Coast Guard to reassess the troubled C-27J Spartan fleet's future and seek alternative aircraft for maritime surveillance and tactical transport needs.

Perú to double number of C-27Js Mi-17s

Peru intends to acquire a range of new fixed- and rotary-wing transport aircraft across its armed forces, in part to bolster the country’s resources to cope with humanitarian relief operations.
The South American country’s shopping list includes additional Leonardo C-27J battlefield transports, heavy transport aircraft – including for in-flight refuelling – more Viking Aircraft DHC-6 Series 400 Twin Otters, plus a substantial number of Mil Mi-17 helicopters.
Peru’s air force already operates four C-27Js and, will buy another two before the end of 2020, with six more to follow over the next three years. In addition, the Peruvian army is considering the twin-turboprop to replace a fleet of three Antonov An-32Bs, all of which are approaching 30 years old.
Peru already operates a substantial fleet of Mi-8/17-series helicopters across the three branches of its armed forces, as well as the country’s national police, and will stick with the Russian-built rotorcraft for future purchases to maintain commonality.
flightglobal

Airbus Awarded Canadian Search-and-Rescue Project

Canadian Cabinet ministers will announce Dec. 8 that the Airbus C-295 has been selected as the country’s new fixed-wing search-and-rescue (SAR) aircraft.
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan and Procurement Minister Judy Foote will release the details that morning at the Royal Canadian Air Force base in Trenton Ontario.
The deal will be worth around CAN$3 billion (US $2.3 billion) and would include long-term, in-service support.
The Airbus Defense and Space C-295 was selected over the C-27J aircraft from Leonardo (formerly Finmeccanica ).
Embraer of Brazil also bid the KC-390 for the Canadian program.
Airbus officials declined to comment, referring questions to the Canadian government.
Sajjan’s press secretary, Jordan Owens, declined to confirm any details on the contract award set for Thursday.
Airbus Defence and Space has teamed with key Canadian firms for the project and other ventures on the C-295.
The new planes will replace the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 40-year-old Buffalo aircraft and older-model C-130s currently assigned to search-and-rescue duties.
Airbus previously said it will build a new training facility in Comox, British Columbia, if it wins the contract.
The Fixed Wing Search and Rescue (FWSAR) aircraft project is divided into a contract for the acquisition of the aircraft and another contract for 20 years of in-service support.
The Air Force expects all aircraft for the FWSAR program to be delivered by 2023.
The FWSAR project originally envisioned acquiring 17 aircraft. But that has now changed and will be capability based, according to government officials. The aerospace firms submitted in their bids the numbers of aircraft they believe are needed for Canada to handle the needed SAR capability.
In the bids, the firms were required to submit prices and aircraft numbers for a fleet to operate out of four main existing bases across Canada. Information was also requested for having planes operating from three bases.
The Canadian government originally announced its intent in the spring of 2004 to buy a fleet of new fixed-wing SAR aircraft, but the purchase has been on and off ever since.
The FWSAR project was sidelined over the years by more urgent purchases of equipment for Canada’s Afghanistan mission as well as complaints made in the House of Commons by domestic aerospace firms and Airbus that the Air Force favored the C-27J aircraft for the fixed-wing SAR plane.
The Air Force strenuously denied any preference for an aircraft.
defensenews

Peruvian Air Force Receives First C-27J Spartan

The official ceremony for the delivery of the first C-27J Spartan to Peru’s Air Force has taken place, in Lima, at Las Palmas base.
This aircraft is part of the contract signed between Alenia Aermacchi and Perú in December 2013.
In December 2014 a second contract was signed for two additional C-27Js bringing to four aircraft the number of these planes ordered by the Peruvian Air Force.
The airplanes’ deliveries will end in 2017 and will be managed by the Air Group n. 8 at the Callao base.
Perú will employ the C-27J as a strategic asset in passenger and cargo transport, humanitarian, fire-fighting, search and rescue and internal security missions.
In addition to Peru the C-27J Spartan has already been ordered by the Air Forces of Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Romania, Morocco and Slovakia, as well as by the U.S., Mexico, Australia and by an African Country, for a total of 80 airplanes.
aleniaaermacchi

Peru Orders Two C-27J

The contract, which brings the number of C-27J Spartans ordered by the Peruvian Air Force to four, also includes integrated logistic support and technical assistance. The first two aircraft, ordered in December 2013, will be delivered to FAP in the first few months of 2015, while the second order will be delivered in 2016 and 2017. The aircraft will be operated by 8th Air Group based at Callao, on the country's central coast.
finmeccanica

Successfull tests for C-27J with Roll-On/Roll-Off Palletized Gun Systems

ATK and Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi have successfully completed the first phase of ground and flight testing of the fully configured multi-mission MC-27J tactical transport aircraft with the support of the Italian Air Force. The series of tests exceeded all test objectives and demonstrated the accuracy of side-mounted GAU-23 30mm cannon.
The ITAF MC-27J aircraft was modified with an L-3 Wescam MX-15Di Electro-Optical and Infrared Turret mounted under the nose of the aircraft to support multi-mission applications such as a Gunship, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance(ISR) and Search and Rescue (SAR) missions; various radio and data links and ATK’s Roll-On/Roll-Off (RORO) palletized gun and mission control systems.
aleniaaermacchi

Canada wanted to buy surplus C-27 from U.S.

The Canadian air force wanted to pursue the direct purchase of surplus C-27 U.S. planes for search-and-rescue.
Internal documents, obtained by The Canadian Press, show military planners pitched the notion of acquiring C-27J transports that were expected to be sold by the Pentagon two years ago as part of a massive budget-cutting exercise south of the border.
It was also acknowledged in the analysis there were would be fewer industrial benefits for the country.
The question of whether Canada would even be allowed to buy them hung in the balance until late last fall when U.S. Special Operations Command, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Forest Service expressed interest in dividing up the 21 planes, some of which hadn't even come off the assembly line.
The air force went as far as to formally ask the U.S. for price and availability through the materiel branch of National Defence.
The thinking was that up to 17 planes could be acquired at a bargain and before 2015 when the Buffalos are slated to reach the end of their serviceable life.
Without a replacement aircraft soon, the air force would be forced into costly upgrades for both the C-115 and the C-130s.
vancouversun

US Coast Guard to Take Control of Last USAF C-27Js

The US Coast Guard will take control of the last of the US Air Force C-27J cargo planes, putting an end of a years-long saga deciding a long-term home for the platforms.
The planes will be transferred to the Coast Guard within six to 12 months, with the goal of filling medium range surveillance USCG missions such as maritime patrol, drug and migrant interdiction, disaster response, and search and rescue.
The C-27J is a tactical transport designed for use on small, rough airfields. The Air Force initially planned on fielding 38 planes before deciding they were too expensive to operate. That decision set off a firestorm of controversy in Congress, where members were eager to make sure local Air National Guard units received the platforms.
The Air Force purchased 21 planes. In November, the service transferred seven to US Special Operations Command. The US Forest Service had also submitted a request for the planes.
Congress has made sure the Forest Service won’t lose out entirely. Under the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act passed last month, the transfer of the C-27Js is dependent upon the completion of the Coast Guard transferring seven C-130s to the Air Force, which will then be required to shoulder the cost of modifying them into firefighting aircraft for the Forest Service.
defensenews

Maiden Flight of the First Australia C-27J

The Royal Australian Air Force’s first C-27J Spartan has successfully completed its maiden flight in Italy.
The first two C-27J’s are expected to arrive in Australia in 2015. The C-27J Spartan capability is expected to achieve initial operational capability in in late 2016..
The C-27J Spartan is intended to complement the capabilities of the current C-130J Hercules and C-17A Globemaster fleets and has common infrastructure, engines, avionics and cargo handling systems with the C-130J Hercules.
The C-27J Spartan replaces the Caribou, which was retired from service in 2009.
Air Force has re-established Number 35 Squadron to operate the ten C-27J aircraft.
defense-studies

US Coast Guard to Get 14 C-27Js from Air Force

Coast Guard aviation is poised to get a much needed boost if the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2014 — which calls for the service to get 14 of the Air Force’s C-27J Spartan medium-sized military transport aircraft — is passed.
The Senate is expected to vote, and pass, the House-approved bill on Dec. 17.
The Coast Guard had been battling the Forest Service for the aircraft transfer over the past several months. The NDAA stipulates the Coast Guard must transfer seven of its HC-130H Hercules transport aircraft to the Air Force.
Coast Guard aviation has been shortchanged in the service’s budget the past two fiscal years. The fiscal 2014 budget didn’t have any funding to purchase new aircraft in the service’s $909 million acquisition budget.
During a Dec. 11 hearing before the House Transportation subcommittee on Coast Guard and maritime transportation, Vice Adm. John Currier, the Coast Guard vice commandant, said the service will stop its purchases of HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft at 18 because it will get the C-27Js. The program of record was 36 of the maritime transportation aircraft.
seapowermagazine

U.S. Government Agencies Fighting Over Who Gets C-27J Aircraft/C-295 offerd to Canada

The C-27J tactical airlifter, once a castoff from the USAF, has become a hot commodity in the U.S. government’s aircraft fleet.
The USAF’s decision early this year to mothball its 21 brand-new, twin-engine C-27Js—labeling the Alenia Aermacchi transports a niche capability too expensive to sustain alongside its other airlifters—triggered an interagency squabble between the U.S. Forest Service, bent on using them as much-needed firefighting tankers, and the U.S. Coast Guard, which was intent on employing them to plug a gap in maritime patrol capability.
Seven of those aircraft have are going to be dedicate to Army Special Operations Command for use in parachute-aided free-fall training, replacing aging CASA C212.
With the Coast Guard seeking 14 aircraft and the Forest Service seven, officials at the Pentagon, the Homeland Security Department and the Agriculture Department were left haggling over the allocation.
Meanwhile, Airbus Military has put out this news release on its C295 aircraft, which like the C-27J, is a contender for the RCAF’s FWSAR program. The company noted that it had completed a second round of tests of its prototype C295 firefighting aircraft which will provide detailed data on the performance of its water dropping system.
Following earlier testing of the system, the company conducted seven water drops at a special range near Cordoba, Spain using ground equipment designed to measure the dispersal pattern of the water.
The trials were successfully completed and showed good initial promise, confirming the aircraft’s highly satisfactory handling during the drop procedure. In the coming weeks the data will be examined in detail to enable decisions to be taken on the final configuration of the C295 firefighter.
In the trials the aircraft carried one 3,500 litre tank and the water was gravity-ejected through two dispensers in the belly.
ottawacitizen

Innovative fire fighting system approved for the C-27J Spartan

One of the Romanian Air Force’s C-27Js will be the first aircraft in Europe to use an innovative firefighting system. In the several past weeks, Alenia Aermacchi conducted intense operating and training tests on the aircraft, which included the new fire fighting system onboard.
Alenia Aermacchi recently completed an experimental campaign in a Romanian mountain range with a C-27J that operates with the Fortele Aeriene Române —the Romanian Air Force. The objective of the campaign was to test the innovative firefighting system called Caylym Guardian. The system allows C-27Js to drop up to six large cardboard containers on bushfires; each container has a capacity of 1000 liters water or extinguishing liquid.
aleniaaermacchi

Peru Orders 2 Alenia Aermacchi C-27Js

Peru has ordered two C-27J tactical transport aircraft from Alenia Aermacchi.
The aircraft has been selected by the Peruvian Air Force after a three-year Peruvian Ministry of Defense selection procedure.
During tests, the aircraft undertook troop and civilian transport, materials and medicine transport, medevac operations, airdrops, search and rescue, humanitarian, homeland security and civil protection missions.
The C-27J has already been ordered by Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Romania, Morocco, Mexico, the US, Australia and by an undisclosed African country for a total of 74 aircraft. The aircraft has also been selected by Slovakia and the contract is under negotiation.

Italian AF, Alenia Sign Deal for MC-27J Gunships

The Italian Air Force signed an agreement Monday with Alenia Aermacchi to convert up to six C-27J Spartan cargo planes into a multimission gunship configuration called the MC-27J Pretorian.
Alenia has partnered with US-based ATK to conduct the gunship modifications, which include sensors, communications and cannon.
Alenia will use one of its C-27Js as a prototype that will receive advanced communication and sensor equipment. The Air Force then plans to deploy the aircraft to Afghanistan for trials.
Alenia will then convert three Air Force C-27Js into the gunship configuration by 2016. An additional three aircraft will also be modified to accept the gunship equipment.
The modifications will be conducted at an Alenia facility in Italy. Once complete, half of the Air Force’s 12-aircraft C-27J fleet will fashion the Pretorian upgrade.

What About the US C-27Js?

Following the US Air Force’s decision to stop flying its 21 C-27Js, seven have been transferred to the US Army’s Special Operations Command.
The other 14 aircraft remain in limbo and will likely end up in the US Coast Guard and Forest Service.
defensenews

US SOCOM To Get 7 C-27Js From USAF

The Pentagon has assigned seven C-27J Spartans to US Special Operations Command (SOCOM), but has not decided the fate of the Air Force’s remaining airlifters.
Three airlifters at Pope Air Force Base, N.C., will be transferred to SOCOM by the end of this month. Four more are in production and are scheduled for delivery directly to SOCOM between December and April 2014.
Designed by Italian firm Alenia Aermacchi, the C-27J is a tactical transport designed for use on small, rough airfields. The Air Force initially planned on fielding 38 of the cargo planes, before deciding that they were too expensive to operate. That decision set off a firestorm of controversy in Congress, where members were eager to make sure local Air National Guard units received the platforms.
Altogether, the Air Force has paid for 21 C-27s. With the seven SOCOM planes assigned, 13 aircraft are being stored at the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG)
The Air Force is maintaining those C-27s under “Type 1000” storage, which requires the planes be kept in near-active condition. The goal is that when a decision on their destination is made, they can be quickly spun up and delivered.
The US Forest Service and Coast Guard have each submitted a letter of interest in acquiring the planes to the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD).
Finding a stable US operator would likely help sales of the Spartan abroad, according to analysts.
The plane’s reputation could be particularly boosted if SOCOM decides to modify the planes into the MC-27J gunship configuration. That configuration, a joint development between Alenia and ATK, adds a 30mm cannon and dual-console mission management system to the plane.
defensenews

Australia will buy 10 Alenia C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft

Australia will buy 10 new Alenia C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft to replace the Vietnam-era Caribou aircraft retired from service in 2009.
The Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) looked into this procurement following a complaint from opposition defence spokesman David Johnston.
He said other potential suppliers had provided information which raised questions about whether the Alenia deal would provide value for money.
ANAO concluded it did, on the basis that the C-27J would do everything defence required at the lowest cost.
This was a contentious procurement which pitted the C-27J against the Airbus C-295.
Defence favoured the C-27J on the basis that it could fly further and faster with a greater load capacity, in particular its ability to carry special operations vehicles.
For that reason, it opted for a direct procurement of C-27J aircraft through the US military as a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) deal rather than a full tender process.
news.com.au

Israeli weapon systems on MC-27J “Flying Cannon” ?

Israeli sources confirmed that Israeli weapons system may be added to the package for the MC-27J aircraft equipped with a 30 mm gun.
The planned gunship variant of the C-27J will undertake the first test firings of its 30mm cannon while slaved to an electro-optical/infrared sensor at the end of this year or early 2014.
MC-27J is a new multi mission transport aircraft jointly produced and marketed by Alenia Aermacchi and ATK. It is a roll on/roll off (RO/RO) aircraft based on the C-27J Spartan.
i-hls

MC-27J passes initial gunship test phase

Alenia Aermacchi and partner ATK have completed initial ground and flight tests with their proposed MC-27J derivative of the Italian company's Spartan tactical transport.
The MC-27J has been adapted for the gunship mission via the installation of a palletised system, which houses an ATK GAU-23 30mm cannon and associated command and control equipment inside the aircraft's cargo hold. This will provide operators with the ability to rapidly convert their transport aircraft for the persistent strike role.
Part of the first test phase included proving the roll-on, roll-off nature of the system, which Alenia Aermacchi and ATK say "exceeded all test objectives". Conducted at Eglin AFB in Florida by company personnel.
flightglobal

USAF cancels Afghan C-27A program

The USAF has chosen not to renew a contract with Alenia North America to support a fleet of C-27As for the Afghan Air Force.
U.S. Air Force officials have decided not to renew a contract with Alenia North America to support and induct the small, Italian-made C-27A transport aircraft into the Afghan Air Force.
The decision, provided by the Air Force via letter Dec. 18, is the latest in a string of disappointments for Italian Aerospace conglomerate Finmeccanica as it has sought to boost its U.S. business.

alert5

Anthony Osborne, Amy Butler-aviationweek

Philippines eying CN-235 and C-27J

The Philippine Department of National Defense announced that the CASA/IPTN CN-235 has been shortlisted for its maritime surveillance requirements and is also scouting for a medium lift aircraft.

Italy’s C-27J is also being eyed for the role.

learn more