Alenia AC-27J

Infobox Aircraft
name = AC-27J
type = Fixed-wing gunship
manufacturer = Alenia Aeronautica

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caption = The AC-27J will be modified from the C-27J, shown here
designer =
first flight =
introduction =
retired =
status = Under development
primary user = United States Air Force
produced =
number built =
unit cost = AC-27J: US$60.6 million for each C-27JLaGrone, Sam. [http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/10/airforce_joint_cargo_100808/ "Estimates: C-27 cheaper than C-130J"] , Air Force Times, 08 October 2008.] , $30 million allocated for gunship modificationsButler, Amy. [http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/AC27-072508.xml "DOD eyes one C-27J for conversion to SOF Gunship Lite"] , Aviation Week, 25 July 2008.]
developed from = C-27J Spartan
variants with their own articles =

The Alenia AC-27J is a proposed light gunship for the US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) based on the Alenia C-27J Spartan airlifter. It is currently in the prototype stage. The AC-27J gunship is planned to replace aging AC-130 gunships.Schanz, Marc V. [http://www.airforce-magazine.com/Features/modernization/Pages/FillingtheGunshipGap.aspx "Filling the Gunship Gap"] , Air Force magazine, 18 August 2008.]

Design and development

The AC-27J, dubbed "Gunship Light", is being developed to fulfill the requirements that AFSOC had defined under the AC-XX concept that it envisioned as a replacement for the aging and extensively used AC-130s. The AC-27J is powered by two Rolls-Royce plc turboprops, and its armament is yet to be determined, although it will mount weapons in the 20 mm to 40 mm range.

The AC-27J will be a multi-mission platform, equipped with full-motion video cameras and capable of covert infil/exfil as well as armed support from above.

AFSOC plans to acquire nine aircraft, the first in fiscal 2011. Two additional gunships would be purchased each year from 2012 to 2015, but there is an initiative in the works at the Pentagon that would expand the program to 16 aircraft and accelerate delivery.

The "gunship light/lite" concept that has been circulating is, like AC-XX, now considered to be synonymous with the AC-27J. At the Air Force Association's 2008 conference, it was reported that the AC-27J variant will be named "Stinger II" after the AC-119K Stinger. [http://www.flightglobal.com/blogs/the-dewline/2008/09/afa08-ac27j-stinger-ii-name-re.html AFA-08: AC-27J Stinger II name revealed] , Stephen Trimble Flight Global blog ]

It is yet to be announced which squadron the AC-27J will be assigned to or where the gunships will be stationed within Air Force Special Operations - Hurlburt Field in northwest Florida, or the new Special Ops wing at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico.

pecifications (AC-27J)

Aircraft specification
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
crew=TBD
capacity= TBD
length main= 22.7 m
length alt= 74 ft 6 in
span main= 28.7 m
span alt= 94 ft 2 in
height main= 9.6 m
height alt= 31 ft 8 in
area main=82 m²
area alt=882.7 ft²
empty weight main= 17,000 kg
empty weight alt= 37,479 lb
payload main= 11,500 kg
payload alt= 25,353 lb
max takeoff weight main= 31,800 kg
max takeoff weight alt= 70,100 lb
max landing weight main= 30,500 kg
max landing weight alt= 67,240 lb
engine (prop)= Rolls-Royce Allison AE2100-D2
type of prop= turboprop
number of props=2
power main=3,460 kW
power alt=4,637 shp
max speed main=602 km/h
max speed alt=325 kts, 374 mph
cruise speed main=583 km/h
cruise speed alt=315 kts, 362 mph
range main=4,260 km, 1,852 km
range alt=2,300 nmi, 1,000 nmi
range more=at full load
ferry range main= 5,926 km
ferry range alt= 3,200 nmi
ceiling main=9,144 m
ceiling alt=30,000 ft
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=

ee also

Aircontent
related=
* C-27J Spartan
* C-130J Super Hercules
* Lockheed AC-130

similar aircraft=
* AC-47 Spooky
* Fairchild AC-119

lists=
* List of active military aircraft of the United States
* List of Lockheed aircraft
* List of C-130 Hercules crashes

References

External links

* [http://www.alenia-aeronautica.it/en/Products/c27j.asp Alenia C-27J site]
* [http://www.c-27j.com/ GMAS C-27J site for JCA Program]
* [http://www.aviationdaily.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/VIDC27J.xml&headline=C-27J%20Derivatives%20Emerge C-27J Derivatives Emerge]