Slovenia Welcomes First of Two Advanced C-27J Aircraft

Leonardo has successfully delivered the initial C-27J Next Generation aircraft to the Slovenian Ministry of Defence as part of the Italy-Slovenia Government-to-Government (G2G) Agreement inked on November 17, 2021. This milestone marks the first of two aircraft committed under this bilateral agreement.

The aircraft boasts cutting-edge avionics featuring a glass cockpit equipped with five multifunctional color screens, a radar designed for tactical transport missions, robust communication systems, a satellite connection, ballistic protection, and winglets that enhance its aerodynamic performance significantly.

Within the scope of the G2G Agreement, Leonardo, in collaboration with the Air Armaments and Airworthiness Directorate of the Secretariat General of Defence / National Armaments Directorate, has finalized two contracts in the past couple of years. Each contract encompasses one aircraft alongside logistics and training services. The selection of the C-27J by the Slovenian Ministry of Defence perfectly aligns with their diverse operational requirements, catering to transport and projection capabilities essential for international missions. Moreover, it bolsters their capacity for national initiatives such as rescue missions, disaster relief, and firefighting duties.

The Slovenian program plans to utilize the C-27J in a specialized fire-fighting configuration. It will be outfitted with the cutting-edge MAFFS II (Modular Airborne Fire-Fighting System) from United Aeronautical Corporation, a globally renowned entity specializing in aerial firefighting application systems.

 

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

Slovakia receives first C-27J Spartan airlifter

Slovakia officially inducted into its inventory the first of two Alenia Aermacchi C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft on 31 October.
The twin-engined turboprop, which actually arrived in-country the previous week, was welcomed into service during a ceremony at Malacky-Kuchyna air base near the Austrian border. Malacky-Kuchyna is home to the Slovak Air Force’s (Vzdusné sily Slovenskej Republiky) transport wing which currently fields the Let L-410 Turbolet twin-turboprop cargo aircraft.
Slovakia has acquired the C-27J to replace the already-retired Warsaw Pact-era Antonov An-26 ‘Curl’ airlifters it inherited with the split from the Czech Republic in 1993. Following a protracted procurement process that lasted about six years, a contract was signed in 2014 that was estimated to be worth EUR120 million (USD152 million at the time).
This first aircraft was due to have been delivered in 2016, and the Slovak Ministry of Defence noted that negotiations are ongoing with Alenia Aermacchi’s parent company Leonardo with regard to penalty fees resulting from its late arrival. The second C-27J is now scheduled to arrive at Malacky-Kuchyna at the beginning of 2018.
janes

First RAAF C-27J Touches Down in Australia

The first of 10 C-27J (A34-001) tactical airlifters for the RAAF has touched down at its new home of RAAF Base Richmond.
A second C-27J, A34-002, is expected to be delivered to Richmond in August.
A34-001 had entered Alenia Aermacchi’s Turin assembly line in December 2012 and first flew on December 18 2013. It was ferried to L-3 in Waco in March 2014 for fitment of its ballistic protection matting, EW/self-protection systems, and communications suite. The RAAF then accepted the first two C-27J Spartans onto the Commonwealth register, and commenced training on the aircraft at L-3’s facility at Waco, last December.
The C-27Js are being acquired as battlefield airlifters to replace the capability lost with the retirement of the DHC-4 Caribou in 2009. The C-27Js will be based at Amberley.
defense-studies

Taiwan Launches Ambitious Plans For New Weapons In All Fronts, Cleared to Buy C-27J

China's steady acquisition of advanced weaponry has driven ambitious Taiwanese requirements, including plans to procure stealth fighters, advanced jet trainers, long-range unmanned reconnaissance aircraft and main battle tanks.
Some requirements are awaiting sale notification to the US Congress or are still working through the Ministry of National Defense's internal programming process. Those include:
• MH-60R naval helicopters.
• Aircraft-deployed mines, such as the Quickstrike series.
• Shipboard electronic warfare system upgrades, such as the SLQ-32.
• Phalanx close-in weapon systems.
• Tactical datalink systems as part of a follow-on to the Po Sheng C4ISR upgrade program, now more commonly referred to as "Shyun An" or "Xun An."

Among the Chinese programs spurring Taiwan's response are Su-35 fighter aircraft and long-range S-400 surface-to-air missile systems. Chinese efforts in the South China Sea have also driven requirements for more ships and submarines, though these will be largely indigenous build programs.
Defense sources indicate Taiwan is interested in acquiring an additional AH-64E Apache attack helicopter, presumably as replacement for the unit lost in a training accident in 2014.
Taiwan needs to start replacing its fighter trainers in the next few years, but the Air Force has not announced a selection process for new trainers to replace aging F-5 fighters and AT-3 attack trainers, though plans for a tentative budget have been announced by Air Force officials for 2017.
The Air Force uses its F-5E/F fighters and AT-3 jet trainers for training before moving forward to one of three fighters: F-16A/Bs, Mirage 2000-5s or indigenous defense fighters.
The Air Force has said it wants to procure 68 advanced jet trainers for advanced training, lead-in and operations transitioning training, Shih said.
At present, there are three candidates: the US Air Force's T-X program, which is still under development; the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master; and the T-50 Golden Eagle built by Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) and Lockheed Martin.
Taiwan's Air Force also has a requirement to replace aging single-engine propeller-driven Beechcraft T-34C Turbo Mentor trainers procured from the US in the 1980s. The T-34 squadron has suffered numerous fatal accidents over the past several years. The Beechcraft AT-6 is the most likely candidate.
Taiwan also has been pursuing a procurement for six C­27J Spartan medium-transport aircraft, along with an indigenous training and maintenance package, to replace the Air Force's Fokker 50 VIP aircraft. The US government has released the C-27J for Taiwan, but the Air Force is awaiting financing, which has been hampered by the cost of recent upgrades to its indigenous defense fighters and upcoming upgrades to its F-16A/B fighter fleet.
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

Chile close to Stamp Deal for C-27J and M-345

Chile looks set to sign a contract with Italy for the procurement of the C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft and the M-345 trainer.
Chile's Defence Minister signed an agreement with his Italian counterpart for collaboration between the Chilean Enaer and Alenia Aermacchi across a range of projects that include cooperation on the two Alenia aircraft types.
According to Alenia Aermacchi, one of the issues discussed and agreed was for support of both the C-27J and M-345, with a memorandum of understanding (MoU) being signed.
However, as Chile does not currently operate either of these types it can be assumed that a procurement deal looks set to be struck at some point in the not-too-distant future.
janes

SAAF looking at C-130, KC-390, C-295 and C-27J for airlift

South Africa National Defence Force has its eyes on two possible types to replace its ageing C-130BZ fleet.
SAAF is considering the C-130 or the KC-390 and the C-27J or C-295 to replace the C-47TP and probably also the C-212. .
defenceweb

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

Peru opts for second batch of C-27Js

Peru has released funds to procure a second batch of two Alenia C-27J Spartan for the Peruvian Air Force.
The second batch of C-27J Spartans will add to the previous two ordered in November 2013.
The first batch is expected to be delivered in March 2015, so it is likely the second batch will arrive around 12 months after that.
The C-27Js will be operated by Transport Squadron 844, which is currently being formed and will operate out of the airbase at Lima-Callao.
janes

Airbus and TATA teams up for HS748 Replacement in Indian Air Force wiht C-295

Airbus today announced that it has teamed up with Indian private firm Tata Advanced Systems to bid for the ~$2 billion deal to replace 56 Hawker Siddley HS748 Avro transports in service with Indian Air Force with the C295.Responding to the programme requirements, Airbus said today, "A total of 56 Avro aircraft are to be replaced. In the event of contract award, Airbus Defence and Space will supply the first 16 aircraft in ‘fly-away’ condition from its own final assembly line. The subsequent 40 aircraft will be manufactured and assembled by Tata in India. This will include undertaking structural assembly, final aircraft assembly, systems integration and testing, and management of the indigenous supply chain.
Airbus firmly believes that the C295 is the best aircraft to replace the IAF Avro fleetThis will hopefully be a good fight. Other airframers expected to announce their 'teamings' with Indian firms for the contest include Alenia Aermachhi with the C-27J Spartan, and Antonov with the An-148. HAL hates the idea of this fight, given that the process itself requires an industrial stamp of approval for competing facilities in the country -- factories that hopefully directly compete in the future with HAL. Apart from Tata, companies like Reliance, Larsen ; Toubro and Mahindra could compete.

livefistdefence

Slovakia approves purchase of two C-27J

Slovakia military will purchase two Italian tactical transport aircraft C-27J Spartan for, the government decided at its October 22 session. This move completes the almost six-year procurement process that began in 2008 in the wake of the crash of military aircraft An-24 close to Hungarian village Hejce in which 42 Slovaks died.
spectator

Slovakian C-27J contract imminent

Slovakia's longstanding aim to buy new transport aircraft may soon come to fruition, with the Slovak Ministry of Defence (MoD) announcing it hopes to sign a contract to acquire two Alenia Aermacchi C-27J by 30 September.
Slovakian Defence Ministersaid that he hoped to "finalise [a] contract for the purchase of two Spartan aircraft. Our ambition is to complete the process by 30 September".
Slovakia has long sought to buy new tactical transport aircraft to replace its aging Antonov An-24 'Coke' and An-26 'Curl' transporters. However, despite the fatal crash of an An-24 in 2006 giving the purchase urgency and the downselect of the C-27J for the requirement in December 2008, budgetary issues had stalled the acquisition by 2009. Talks with Alenia were understood to have been resumed by Slovakia in 2012, and a MC-27J was present at SIAF 2014.
According to a Slovak MoD statement, the purchase still needs approval from the Slovak Security Council and the government. The MoD noted however that the deal was an approved part of the Slovak Air Force's long-term development plan.
Slovakia and the Czech Republic had at one point considered the joint-acquisition of tactical transport aircraft. However, while the Czech Republic selected the Airbus C295 in 2008, Slovakia decided that the C295's internal dimensions were too small to suit its needs.
janes

India exercises option for six more Hercules transport aircraft

The Indian Air Force has exercised its options for a further six Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules transport aircraft under a contract modification announced by the US Department of Defense (DoD) on 18 July.
Once delivered, these new aircraft will be based in eastern India.
India received the first of its initial batch of six C-130J-30 aircraft in February 2011, with the remaining five arriving in-country by September of that year. Operated by the specially formed 77 Squadron at Hindon Airbase, near New Delhi, these aircraft are used primarily for special forces operations. In August 2013 a C-130J-30 demonstrated the type's ability to support Indian military operations in the far north of the country when it landed on the world's highest airstrip in the Himalayan Ladakh region bordering China.
With six aircraft already in service, the IAF signed a letter of offer and acceptance for the additional six platforms in December 2013.
The IAF's contract to procure additional C-130J-30 platforms is part of a wider recapitalisation and build-up of India's airlift capability. Over recent years, the country has signed for 10 (and received 8 to date) Boeing C-17 Globemaster III strategic transport aircraft, and is developing with Russia a tactical twin-engined jet transport aircraft, known as the Multirole Transport Aircraft (MTA).
Also, the IAF has received 12 Dornier Do-228 light transport aircraft manufactured indigenously by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and has launched a competition to buy 56 light/medium tactical transport aircraft. The frontrunners for that requirement are the Airbus DS C295 and Alenia Aermacchi C-27J aircraft.
janes

Mexico starts A400M evaluation

Mexico is conducting an evaluation of the A400M. One of the development aircraft is taxied at Mexico City’s international airport, from where it will “show its performance in a series of demonstration flights”.
The aircraft is scheduled to remain in Mexico until 23 May.
Mexico’s air force is an existing operator of the Airbus C295 medium transport, along with rival manufacturer Alenia Aermacchi’s C-27J Spartan. Mexico's current tactical airlift inventory as including a mix of five Lockheed Martin C-130E/K Hercules built between 1964 and 1968 and one civilian-standard L-100. The service has previously shown interest in possibly acquiring a pair of new-generation C-130Js from the USA.
flightglobal

NATO preps for military exercises in Baltic airspace

The Ministry of Defence presents this scenario: A Lithuanian Air Force C-27J Spartan transport aircraft is flying over the Baltic Sea and suddenly loses radio communication. The Airspace Control Centre of the Kingdom of Sweden immediately allows the Lithuanian aircraft to enter Swedish airspace and raises the Swedish Air Force’s JAS-39 Gripen fighter jets from standby status. Simultaneously, the U.S. Contingent conducting the NATO Air Policing mission in the Baltic States with F-15Cs is activated. As the Swedish aircraft escort the Lithuanian C-27J to the border of international airspace, US fighter jets are waiting to escort it back to the Lithuanian Air Force base in Šiauliai.
This is just one of the training scenarios in a NATO air capability exercise taking place in Baltic airspace from 1-2 April. Other scenarios that will be simulated during the training event include emergency landing and search and rescue operation using the Mi-8 helicopter of the Lithuanian Air Force.
As unrest has escalated in the near vicinity of the Baltic States, NATO has augmented the Baltic Air Policing mission with additional warplanes to further strengthen security.
The air training event will involve an F-15C Eagle of the U.S. Air Force currently deployed on NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, a JAS-39 Gripen aircraft of the Swedish Air Force, C-27J Spartan transport aircraft and an Mi-8 helicopter of the Lithuanian Air Force. NATO Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft based in Germany and U.S. KC-135R air refuelling aircraft are also expected to join the exercise.
The training event will include low-altitude flights over Palanga and Vilnius airports.
During the two-day exercise from 1-2 April, Sweden’s JAS-39 aircraft and the C-27J of the Lithuanian Air Force will train in Palanga at about 11.00 and 11.15 hours, respectively. U.S. F-15C fighter jets will be training in Vilnius at about 15.00 hrs.
lithuaniatribune

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