Alenia C-27J Spartan

C-27J Spartan
Role	Military transport aircraft
National origin	Italy / United States
Manufacturer	Alenia Aeronautica
Primary users	Italian Air Force Hellenic Air Force Bulgarian Air Force Lithuanian Air Force
Developed from	Aeritalia G.222

The Alenia C-27J Spartan is a medium-sized military transport aircraft. The C-27J is an advanced derivative of Alenia Aeronautica'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 (JCA) for the United States military.

The C-27J has also been ordered by the militaries of Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Morocco, and Romania.

Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 2.1 Possible sales 3 Variants 3.1 AC-27J Stinger II 4 Operators 5 Specifications (C-27J) 6 See also 7 References 8 External links

Design and development

In 1995, Alenia and Lockheed Martin began discussions to improve Alenia's G.222 using C-130J's glass cockpit with a more powerful version of the G.222's T64G engine and four-blade propellers. The companies began a program for the improved G.222, named C-27J in 1996. This was a US military type designation based on the G.222's C-27A US designation. Then the design was changed to use the C-130J Super Hercules's Rolls-Royce AE 2100 engine and six-blade propeller. Alenia and Lockheed Martin formed Lockheed Martin Alenia Tactical Transport Systems (LMATTS) for the development of C-27J in 1997.^[1] The C-27J has a 35% increase in range and a 15% faster cruise speed than the G.222.^[1]

The LMATTS joint venture was later dissolved when Lockheed Martin chose to offer the C-130J in 2006 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.^[2] Alenia Aeronautica then paired with L-3 Communications to form the Global Military Aircraft Systems (GMAS) joint venture to market the C-27J.^[3] Boeing Integrated Defense Systems later joined Alenia and L-3 Communications as a GMAS team member.^[4]

The GMAS team bid the C-27J in the 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 in the Army National Guard, and will become a substitute tactical airlift platform for those Air National Guard airlift groups or airlift wings losing C-130E/H/J aircraft to retirement (C-130E) or Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) action redistribution of aircraft (C-130H/C-130J).^[5][6]

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.^[7] 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.^[6] 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 13 June 2007.^[8]

On 22 June 2007, Raytheon formally protested the award of the JCA contract to the Alenia C-27J.^[9] 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.^[10] Prior to Raytheon's protest, the first C-27J aircraft were to begin delivery to the joint US Army-Air Force test and training program in June 2008.^[11] The first flight of a US C-27J occurred on 17 June 2008.^[12]

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.^[13]

Romania ordered seven C-27Js for delivery from 2008 to replace Antonov An-24 and Antonov An-26 aircraft, beating the EADS CASA C-295.^[14] However, the order was blocked by the government in February 2007 upon a legal challenge filed by EADS.^[15]. In June 2007, the order was confirmed again when the Romanian court rejected EADS' complaint.^[16] The Romanian government officially signed the contract for the delivery of seven C-27Js on 7 December 2007,^[17] with the first two Spartans delivered on 12 April 2010.^[18]

Orders stand at Italy (12), Greece (12 + 3 options), Bulgaria (5), Lithuania (3), Morocco (4), Romania (7), and United States (38) as of 2020.^{[17][19][20][21]}

Operational history

Italy received its first C-27J in October 2006.^[22] The Italian Air Force deployed two C-27Js to Afghanistan from 12 September 2008 to 27 January 2009 in support NATO airlift operations.^[23][24]

On 13 November 2007, the first C-27J was delivered to the Bulgarian Air Force.^[19]

The United States received its first C-27J on 25 September 2008.^[25] In September 2008 the C-27J Schoolhouse, operated by L-3 Link, officially began classes at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. By April 2009, the Army had accepted deliveries of two aircraft and had 11 more on order.^[26] A proposal in May 2009 that the US Army/Army National Guard relinquish all of its aircraft to the US Air Force, primarily the Air National Guard, with a reduction of the total buy to 38 aircraft,^[27] led the DoD to give total control of the US's C-27Js to the USAF in December.^[21] It will be entirely operated to the Air National Guard for direct support of the United States Army. The US Air National Guard has received 4 C-27Js and began using them for testing and training. Purchase of 38 Spartans is anticipated, with initial operational capability to be reached in October 2010 and its first combat deployment planned for March 2011.^[28]

Possible sales

The C-27J is a probable contender for a Royal Australian Air Force requirement for light airlifer to replace its recently retired DHC-4 Caribou.^[29]

The Canadian Forces Air Command has identified the C-27J as one of two candidates to replace the de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo and would be purchasing 15 aircraft.^[30]

The Indian Air Force has issued a Request for Information (RFI) for 16 medium military transport aircraft. Alenia Aeronautica responded with information about the C-27J Spartan.

It was announced on 21 August 2009 that Taiwan had entered price negotiations with Alenia Aeronautica for the sale of six C-27J Spartan aircraft.^[31] The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Ghana of four C-27Js on 9 September 2009.^[32]

Variants

AC-27J Stinger II

The AC-27J was a proposed gunship version of the C-27J. The US Air Force shifted US$32 million from the Pentagon's 2008 budget to purchase a C-27J for the Air Force Special Operations Command, 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.^[33] The AC-27J was to be equipped using proven hardware and systems to reduce risk.^[34][35][33] AFSOC planned to acquire 16 aircraft, the first in fiscal 2011, with two additional gunships to be purchased each year from 2012 to 2015.

The AC-27J was planned as a multi-mission platform, equipped with full-motion video cameras and capable of covert infil/exfil as well as armed support from above, armed with either a 30-millimeter or 40-millimeter gun and the stand-off, precision-guided munitions like the Northrop Grumman-built Viper Strike bomb.^[36]

At the Air Force Association's 2008 conference, it was reported that the AC-27J variant would be named "Stinger II" after the AC-119K Stinger.^[33][37] C-27A 90-0170 (c/n 4097) was removed from storage at AMARC in October 2008 and delivered to Eglin AFB, Florida, for use by the Air Force Research Laboratory to test the feasibility of mounting of 30 mm and 40 mm guns. The fully assembled airframe was at the Eglin main base by December 2008.^[38]

In May 2009, the program was put on hold because Army funding for 40 C-27s in a USA-USAF cooperative purchase had been removed from the fiscal 2010 budget.^[39] Currently, Air Force Special Operations Command will stick with the C-130 for solutions to its stated need for gunships.^[40][41]

Operators

 Bulgaria

• Bulgarian Air Force: 5 aircraft ordered through 2011, 2 received.

 Greece

• Hellenic Air Force: 12 aircraft ordered, 8 received.

 Italy

• Italian Air Force: 12 aircraft on order, full optional (Digital Map, HUD, Aerial Refueling Probes), 12 received.

 Lithuania

• Lithuanian Air Force: 3 aircraft received as of October 2009.^[42]

 Morocco

• Royal Moroccan Air Force: 4 aircraft ordered, 1 received in July 2010.

 Romania

• Romanian Air Force: 7 aircraft ordered with 2 in operation as of April 2010, and another 5 scheduled to arrive through 2012.^[43]

 Slovakia

• Slovak Air Force has selected the C-27J and is negotiating an order for a minimum of 2 aircraft.^[44]

 United States

• United States Army: requirement for up to 75 aircraft in the Army National Guard.^[6] Two aircraft were received by April 2009.^[26]
• United States Air Force: requirement for up to 70 aircraft in the Air Force Special Operations Command and the Air National Guard.^[6] In 2009, the US Air Force was given total control of the US's C-27Js. The requirement is currently limited to 38 aircraft.^[21] The US Air National Guard has received 4 C-27Js.

Specifications (C-27J)

Data from Alenia Aeronautica,^[45] C-27J facts^[46]

General characteristics

• Crew: Minimum two: pilot, co-pilot, (plus loadmaster when needed)
• Capacity: 60 troops or 46 paratroops or 36 litters with 6 medical personnel
• Payload: 11,500 kg (25,353 lb)
• Length: 22.7 m (74 ft 6 in)
• Wingspan: 28.7 m (94 ft 2 in)
• Height: 9.64 m (31 ft 8 in)
• Wing area: 82 m² (880 sq ft)
• Empty weight: 17,000 kg (37,479 lb)
• Max takeoff weight: 30,500 kg (67,241 lb)
• Powerplant: 2 × Rolls-Royce AE2100-D2A turboprop, 3,460 kW (4,640 hp) each
• Propellers: 6-bladed Dowty Propeller 391/6-132-F/10, 4.15 m (13 ft 7 in) diameter

Performance

• Maximum speed: 602 km/h (374 mph; 325 kn)
• Cruising speed: 583 km/h (362 mph; 315 kn)
• Minimum control speed: 194 km/h; 121 mph (105 kn)
• Range: 1,852 km (1,151 mi; 1,000 nmi) with 10,000 kilograms (22,000 lb) payload
• Range at 6,000 kg payload: 4,260 km (2,650 mi; 2,300 nmi)
• Ferry range: 5,926 km (3,682 mi; 3,200 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 9,144 m (30,000 ft)

See also

• Fairchild AC-119
• Lockheed AC-130
  

Related development

• Aeritalia G.222
• C-130J Super Hercules
  

Comparable aircraft

• Antonov An-26
• EADS CASA C-295
• Transall C-160
• Antonov An-32
  

References

• Eden, Paul, ed. "Alenia G222 and C-27, Mini-Hercules". Encyclopedia of Modern Military Aircraft. Amber Books, 2004. ISBN 1904687849.

External links

• Alenia C-27J site
• GMAS C-27J site for JCA Program
• Alenia Canadian C-27J site
• "Spartan In Name Only" LM Code One Magazine
• "Frontline warrior: The Alenia Aeronautica C-27 Spartan ", Flight International
• European Aviation Safety Agency - Type Certificate Data Sheet C-27J
• Greek C-27J Spartan
• Flight Test: C-27J - No small measure. Flight International, 24 August 2004.
• "C-27J Derivatives Emerge". Aviation Week, 23 October 2007.

Aircraft produced by Alenia Aeronautica Aeritalia designs: G.222 Joint ventures: AMX • ATR 42 • ATR 72 • C-27J • Typhoon UAVs: Sky-X • Sky-Y • Molynx - Black Lynx

United States tri-service transport designations post-1962 C-1 · C-2 · C-3 · C-4 · C-5 · C-6 · C-7 · C-8 · C-9 · C-10 · C-11 · C-12 · (C-13 not assigned) • C-14 · C-15 · (C-16 not assigned) • C-17 · C-18 · C-19 · C-20A/B/C/D · C-20F/G/H · C-21 · C-22 · C-23 · C-24 · C-25 · C-26 · C-27 / C-27J · C-28 · C-29 · (C-30 not assigned) • C-31 · C-32 · C-33 · C-35 · (C-36 not assigned) • C-37 · C-38 · C-40 · C-41 · (C-42 to C-44 not assigned) • C-45 See also: C-143 · C-144 · Pre-1962 list

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