C-27J Spartan

infobox Aircraft
name = C-27J Spartan



caption = A C-27J during "Giornata Azzurra 2007"
national origin = Italy / United States
type = Military transport aircraft
manufacturer = Alenia Aeronautica
designer =
first flight =
introduced =
retired =
status =
primary user = Italian Air Force
more users = Hellenic Air Force
produced =
number built =
unit cost =
developed from = Aeritalia G.222
variants with their own articles = Alenia AC-27J

The Alenia C-27J Spartan is a medium-sized military transport aircraft. The C-27J is an advanced derivative of the company's G.222 (C-27A Spartan in US service), with the engines and systems of the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules. The aircraft was selected as the Joint Cargo Aircraft for the United States military.

Design and development

In 1997, Alenia and Lockheed Martin formed Lockheed Martin Alenia Tactical Transport Systems (LMATTS) for the development of an advanced version of the G.222 with advanced avionics, a glass cockpit and new engines, the same Rolls-Royce AE 2100s that power the C-130J Super Hercules. The LMATTS joint venture was later dissolved when Lockheed Martin chose to offer the C-130J as a contender in the same U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) competition in which the C-27J was competing. [cite web|url=http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=defense&id=news/LMF05016.xml |title=LM To Join JCA Competition With Four-Engine Offering] Alenia Aeronautica then paired with L-3 Communications to form the Global Military Aircraft Systems (GMAS) joint venture to market the C-27J. [ [http://www.c-27j.com/team C-27J Team] ] Boeing Integrated Defense Systems later joined Alenia and L-3 Communications as a GMAS team member. [ [http://dc01-cdh-afa03.tranguard.net/AFA/Reports/2006/Month05/Day02/1070JCA.htm Boeing Jumps on JCA Competition] ]

The C-27J has a 35% increase in range and a 30% increase in service ceiling over the original G.222. The Italian Air Force, Hellenic Air Force, Bulgarian Air Force, Romanian Air Force, United States Army and the United States Air Force have ordered the C-27J. Alenia is offering Canada the C-27J as a CC-115 Buffalo replacement. Lithuania ordered the C-27J as Antonov An-26 replacement.

The GMAS team promoted the C-27J in the U.S. Army and Air Force's Joint Cargo Aircraft competition against Raytheon and EADS North America's C-295. Both the U.S. Army and Air Force JCA orders combined are expected to top 100 aircraft. The JCA will eventually replace the existing C-23 Sherpa, C-12 Huron and C-26 Metroliners. ["C-27J successfully completes Army, Air Force early user survey", "Aerotech News and Review", 2006-12-01] cite web|url=http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2007/06/defense_JCA_070613/|title=C-27J tapped for Joint Cargo Aircraft]

The C-27J had completed the U.S. Department of Defense's Early User Survey evaluations by November 2006, flying 26 hours and surpassing all the JCA program requirements. The GMAS team also announced that the C-27J will be assembled at a facility at Cecil Field, Duval County, Florida. [cite web|url=http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?ref=rss&storyid=84272|title=New Cargo Planes To Be Built in Cecil Field] While the final selection of the JCA was expected to be announced in March 2007, the decision came on 13 June 2007, when the Pentagon selected the C-27J as its Joint Cargo Aircraft. A contract worth US$2.04 billion was awarded to the L-3 Communications team for 78 C-27Js along with training and support on June 13, 2007. [http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123057181 C-27J Spartan named as Joint Cargo Aircraft] ]

On 22 June 2007, Raytheon formally protested the award of the JCA contract to the Alenia C-27J. [cite web|url=http://www.iii.co.uk/news/?type=afxnews&articleid=6165608&subject=economic&action=article|title=Raytheon details dispute over $2B deal] On 27 September 2007, the GAO announced that it had denied Raytheon’s protest, thereby allowing the Pentagon to go ahead with the C-27J procurement. [Tiron, Roxanna (27 September 2007). "GAO denies protest over Joint Cargo Aircraft contract", TheHill.com. Retrieved 28 September 2007.] Prior to Raytheon's protest, the first C-27J aircraft were to begin delivery to the joint U.S. Army-Air Force test and training program in June 2008. [cite web|url=http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/06/airforce_army_jca_070621/|title=Joint Cargo Aircraft delivery starts in a year] The first flight of a US C-27J occurred on 17 June 2008. [Tremble, Stephen. [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/06/17/224743/picture-first-c-27j-for-jca-contract-makes-first-flight.html "First C-27J for JCA contract makes first flight"] , Flightglobal.com, 17 June 2008.]

The C-27J was being considered as a sole-source contract by the Government of Canada as a future replacement for its current search and rescue airfleet, the contract being worth approximately C$3 billion as of January 2007. [cite web|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/01/03/defence-contract.html|title=DND to look at single bid for search planes: report]

Romania ordered seven C-27Js for delivery from 2008 to replace Antonov An-24 and An-26 aircraft, beating the EADS CASA C-295. ["Spartan Order." "Aviation Week & Space Technology." December 11, 2006] However, the order was blocked by the government in February 2007 upon a legal challenge filed by EADS. [ [http://defensenews.com/story.php?F=2562049&C=europe "EADS Taking Aim At C-27J in Romania"] ] . In June 2007, the order was confirmed again when the Romanian court rejected EADS' complaint. [ [http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=2842302&C=airwar "Romania Unblocks C-27J Selection"] ] The Romanian government officially signed a contract for the delivery of seven C-27Js on December 7, 2007.cite web|url=http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=3235797&C=europe|title=Romania Signs Deal for 7 C-27Js]

The C-27J is a probable contender for a Royal Australian Air Force requirement for light airlifer to replace its aging DHC-4 Caribou. [La Franchi, Peter. [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/08/24/216313/australia-to-compete-caribou-replacement.html "Australia to compete Caribou replacement"] , "Flight International", 24 August, 2007.]

On November 13, 2007, the first C-27J was delivered to the Bulgarian Air Force. [http://www.alenia-aeronautica.it/store/news/new150_1.pdf "Alenia Aeronautica delivers the first C-27J to the Bulgarian Air Force"] , Alenia Aeronautica, November 13, 2007.] Currently orders stand at Italy (12), Greece (12 + 3 options), Bulgaria (5), Lithuania (3) Romania (7), and United States (78).

US Air Force is shifting US$32 million from the Pentagon's 2008 budget to purchase a C-27J for its Special Operations Command. The AC-27J will be equipped using proven hardware and systems to reduce risk. [Butler, 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.] [ [http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/AC-XX-Gunship-Lite-A-C-27J-Baby-Spooky-05001/ AC-XX Gunship Lite Prototype: A C-27J “Baby Spooky”] , Defenseindustrydaily.com.] Schanz, Marc V. [http://www.airforce-magazine.com/Features/modernization/Pages/FillingtheGunshipGap.aspx "Filling the Gunship Gap"] , Air Force magazine, 18 August 2008.]

Operational history

Italy received its first C-27J in October 2006. [Wastnage, Justin. [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2006/10/26/210237/pictures-italy-takes-delivery-of-first-of-12-c-27j-spartans-developed-by-alenia-with-lockheed.html "Italy takes delivery of first of 12 C-27J Spartans developed by Alenia with Lockheed Martin"] . Flightglobal.com, 26 October 2006.] The Italian Air Force deployed two C-27Js to Afghanistan on 12 September 2008 to support NATO airlift operations there. [Peruzzi, Luca. [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/09/19/316069/picture-italian-air-force-deploys-c-27j-spartans-to-afghanistan.html "Italian air force deploys C-27J Spartans to Afghanistan"] . "Flight International", 19 September 2008.]

The United States received its first C-27J on 25 September 2008. [ [http://www.l-3com.com/news-events/pressrelease.aspx?releaseID=1202372&category=NA "L-3 Presents First Joint Cargo Aircraft to U.S. Army and Air Force"] , L3 Communications, 25 September 2008.]

Operators

;BUL
*Bulgarian Air Force are expected to receive 5 aircraft through 2011 (1 delivered).;GRE
*Hellenic Air Force 12 aircraft (8 delivered).;ITA
*Italian Air Force 12 aircraft, full optional (Digital Map, HUD, Aerial Refueling Probes) (8 delivered).;LBY
*Libyan Air Force 4 aircraft ordered.Fact|date=September 2008;LTU
*Lithuanian Air Force 3 aircraft (1 delivered).;ROM
*Romanian Air Force 7 aircraft (first Spartan to arrive at the end of 2008, and another 6 are expected to arrive through 2012).;USA
*United States Army - requirement for up to 75 aircraft. The first aircraft is scheduled to be delivered by the end of September 2008.
*United States Air Force - requirement for up to 70 aircraft.

An unspecified Mediterranean country has recently placed an order for four C-27Js. The deal is worth almost 130 million Euros. The country is suspected to be Libya, as it operated the G.222.

pecifications (C-27J)

Aircraft specification
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=Alenia Aeronautica, [http://www.alenia-aeronautica.it/ProductsQuick/factSheet.asp?area=2 Alenia Aeronautica official site] ] C-27J facts [ [http://www.c-27j.com/essential-facts C-27J essential facts] , C-27j.com ]
crew=Three: pilot, co-pilot, loadmaster
capacity=
** 60 troops "or"
** 46 paratroops "or"
** 36 litters with 6 medical personnel
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 at full load
range alt=2,300 nmi, 1,000 nmi at full load
range more=
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=
* Aeritalia G.222
* Alenia AC-27J
* C-130J Super Hercules
similar aircraft=
* Antonov An-72
* EADS CASA C-295
* Transall C-160
lists=
see also =

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.c-27j.ca Alenia Canadian C-27J site]
* [http://www.cdnmilitary.ca/?p=23 CdnMilitary.ca "A Replacement for the Buffalo: The C-27J Spartan" Article on cdnmilitary.ca]
* [http://www.codeonemagazine.com/archives/2004/articles/apr_04/c27j/index.html "Spartan In Name Only" LM Code One Magazine]
* [http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/06/12/214528/frontline-warrior-the-alenia-aeronautica-c-27-spartan.html "Frontline warrior: The Alenia Aeronautica C-27 Spartan "] , Flight International
*
* [http://thehill.com/business--lobby/a-16-million-name-change-for-jca-2008-03-11.html A $16 million name change for JCA]