Australia, Philippines, South Korea interested in gunship conversions

ATK has received significant interest in its gunship and light attack aircraft conversions from a number of Asia-Pacific countries.
Interest in ATK's tactical transport gunship conversions has been particularly strong from several regional countries, with capability discussions ongoing.
Australia is very interested in the MC-27J [special mission aircraft, which ATK developed with airframer Alenia Aermacchi]; Indonesia has shown interest in the [Airbus Defence and Space] CN-235 and C-295 gunship conversions; the Philippines recently bought [surplus Lockheed Martin] C-130Ts, which ATK have briefed about converting [into roll-on/roll-off gunships]; and ATK have briefed South Korea on gunship applications for the CN-235 too..
ATK's light attack and gunship conversion work has become especially popular over recent years, with Iraq receiving Hellfire-armed AC-208 Combat Caravans, Jordan receiving AC-235 gunships (with a contract for AC-295s expected imminently), and Italy signing for the MC-27J special mission aircraft.
janes

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

Jordan takes delivery of AC235 gunship

The Royal Jordanian Air Force has taken delivery of its first Airbus Defence & Space CN235 transport to have been adapted for a light gunship role.
The result of a collaboration between the nation’s King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau and US contractor ATK Defense, the modified AC235 is being exhibited at the 6-8 May SOFEX exhibition in Amman.
Weapons integrated with the aircraft include a side-mounted 30mm cannon, plus four Lockheed Martin AGM-114M/K Hellfire air-to-surface missiles and two pods for BAE Systems 70mm (2.75in) Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System laser-guided rockets, carried using fuselage-mounted pylons. The aircraft also has been equipped with a suite of countermeasures systems for self-protection.
Delivery of the aircraft – which was previously operated by the Jordanian service in the air transport role – followed extensive modifications, including the installation of an ATK mission suite with two onboard operator stations.
The Royal Jordanian Air Force had has two CN235 transports in storage, both originally built for the Spanish air force in 1990. The Jordanian service also currently flies two Airbus C295s in the medium transport role.
ATK is also teamed with Alenia Aermacchi on the development of a command and control and gunship variant of the latter’s Spartan medium transport. A fully-equipped MC-27J demonstrator – also equipped with a 30mm cannon – is scheduled to undergo a full firing campaign in the USA from next month. The Italian air force is to modify six of its C-27Js to the adapted configuration.
flightglobal

Fully configured MC-27J completes first flight

Alenia Aermacchi, and ATK announced that the demonstrator of a fully configured MC-27J multi-mission tactical transport aircraft completed its first flight from the company's Turin test flight centre.
The demonstrator aircraft is optimized for ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) and SAR missions.
The MC-27J, successfully completed a first phase of ground and flight tests in the spring of 2013. The series of tests were conducted by ATK and Alenia Aermacchi personnel at Eglin Air Force Base in the U.S. The tests demonstrated the C-27J’s ability to host a self-contained, roll-on/roll-of gun pallet (RORO) using ATK’s proven GAU-23 30mm cannon in a side firing configuration. Live fire tests and a timed demonstration of the capability to quickly transition from a cargo configuration to a weaponised configuration of the aircraft exceeded all test objectives.
arabianaerospace

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

MC-27J partners set sights on Dubai air show appearance

Alenia Aermacchi and ATK have provided further details about their development work on a gunship and multi-mission payload fit for the C-27J Spartan tactical transport, and revealed plans to take the MC-27J derivative to the Dubai air show in November.
flightglobal

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