Alenia C-27J Spartan

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alenia_C-27J_Spartan

The Alenia C-27J Spartan is a military transport aircraft developed and
manufactured by Leonardo's Aircraft Division (formerly Alenia Aermacchi until
2016). It is an advanced derivative of Alenia Aeronautica's earlier G.222 (C-27A
Spartan in U.S. service), equipped with the engines and various other systems
also used on the larger Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules. In addition to
the standard transport configuration, specialized variants of the C-27J have
been developed for maritime patrol, search and rescue, C3 ISR (command, control,
communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance), fire support and
electronic warfare and ground-attack missions.

In 2007, the C-27J was selected as the Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) for the United
States military; these were produced in an international teaming arrangement
under which L-3 Communications served as the prime contractor. In 2012, the
United States Air Force (USAF) elected to retire the C-27J after only a short
service life due to budget cuts; they were later reassigned to the U.S. Coast
Guard and United States Special Operations Command. The C-27J has also been
ordered by the military air units of Australia, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria,
Lithuania, Mexico, Morocco, Romania, Peru, and Slovakia.

By 2005, the U.S. Army had identified the need to replace its aging Short C-23
Sherpa lifter. In lieu of adequate fixed-wing airlift availability, the CH-47
helicopter fleet was being worked hard on the "last tactical mile" to supply
forward-placed troops; thus the U.S. Army sought the C-27J for its direct
support capabilities, and to reduce demands on the CH-47 fleet. In 2006, LMATTS
was dissolved when Lockheed Martin offered 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. Alenia Aeronautica then paired with L-3
Communications, forming the Global Military Aircraft Systems (GMAS) joint
venture to market the C-27J; Boeing also joined GMAS.

GMAS bid the C-27J in the JCA competition against Raytheon and EADS North
America's C-295 to replace existing Short C-23 Sherpa, Beechcraft C-12 Huron and
Fairchild C-26 Metroliners in the Army National Guard, and as a substitute
tactical airlifter for Air National Guard groups or wings losing C-130s to
retirement or Base Realignment and Closures. By November 2006, the C-27J
completed the U.S. Department of Defense's Early User Survey evaluations, having
flown a total of 26 hours and surpassed all requirements. GMAS also announced
that the C-27J will be assembled at a facility at Cecil Field, Duval County,
Florida. The JCA's final selection was expected in March 2007, however it was
postponed until 13 June 2007, when the Pentagon announced the award of a US$2.04
billion contract for 78 C-27Js, including training and support, to GMAS.

On 22 June 2007, Raytheon formally protested the JCA contract award for the
C-27J. On 27 September 2007, the GAO announced that it had denied Raytheon's
protest, thereby allowing the Pentagon to proceed with procurement; at this
time, the U.S. Army had requirement for up to 75 aircraft in the Army National
Guard; the Air Force had a requirement for up to 70 aircraft in the Air Force
Special Operations Command and the Air National Guard. The first C-27J was to be
scheduled to be delivered to the joint U.S. Army–Air Force test and training
program in June 2008; the first flight of a U.S. C-27J occurred on 17 June 2008.

As of 2016, orders stand at Italy (12), Greece (8), Bulgaria (3), Lithuania (3),
Morocco (4), Romania (7), Mexico (4), United States (21), Australia (10), Peru
(4), Chad (2), Slovakia (2) and an African country


Role
Military transport aircraft

National origin
Italy

Manufacturer
Alenia Aeronautica
Alenia Aermacchi
Leonardo

First flight
24 September 1999

Introduction
October 2006 (Italy)

Status
In service

Primary users
Italian Air Force
United States Coast Guard
Royal Australian Air Force
See Operators below for others

Produced
1999–present

Number built
101 as of 5 May 2018

Unit cost

~US$32M (FY 2012)


Developed from
Aeritalia G.222

The U.S. Air Force performed the C-27J's first combat deployment in Summer 2011.
In August 2011, two C-27Js flown by Air National Guard aircrews, augmented with
Army National Guard personnel, began operations at Kandahar Air Field,
Afghanistan. Between August 2011 and June 2012, the C-27Js of the 179th Airlift
Wing, followed by the 175th Wing executed more than 3200 missions transporting
over 25,000 passengers, and 1400 tons of cargo. Via tactical control of the
C-27Js, the U.S. Army was able to employ helicopters more efficiently, splitting
missions between the two platforms based on their relative strengths.

On 26 January 2012, the Department of Defense announced plans to retire all 38
USAF C-27Js on order due to excess intratheater airlift capacity and budgetary
pressures; its duties are to be met by the C-130. In February 2012, Alenia
warned that it would not provide support for C-27Js resold by the US to
international customers in competition with future orders. On 23 March 2012, the
USAF announced the C-27J's retirement in fiscal year 2013 after determining
other program's budgetary needs and requirement changes for a new Pacific
strategy. The cut was opposed by the Air National Guard and by various
legislators.

In July 2012, the USAF suspended flight operations following a flight control
system failure. By 2013, newly built C-27Js were being sent directly to the
Davis–Monthan Air Force Base boneyard. The USAF spent $567 million on 21 C-27Js
since 2007, with 16 delivered by the end of September 2013; 12 had been taken
out of service while a further five were to be built by April 2014 as they were
too near completion to be worth cancelling. Budget cuts motivated the divesture;
a C-27J allegedly costs $308 million over its lifespan in comparison with a
C-130's $213 million 25-year lifespan cost.

In November 2012, the C-27J deployed for its first domestic mission,
contributing to the Hurricane Sandy relief effort.

In July 2013, the U.S. Coast Guard considered acquiring up to 14 of the 21
retired C-27Js and converting them for search-and-rescue missions, while
cancelling undelivered orders for the HC-144 Ocean Sentry to save $500–$800
million. EADS claimed that the HC-144 costs half as much as the C-27J to
maintain and operate. The U.S. Forest Service also wanted 7 C-27Js for aerial
firefighting. The U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) were interested in
acquiring ex-USAF C-27Js. If the DoD determined it could not afford the
aircraft, they would go to the Forest Service. In late 2013, SOCOM was allocated
7 C-27Js to replace its CASA 212 training aircraft. In December 2013, the 14
remaining C-27Js were transferred to the Coast Guard, with the first HC-27J
delivered in Coast Guard colors in April 2016.

Specifications (C-27J)

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
Cargo compartment: width 3.33 m X height 2.25 mLength: 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)
Max payload: 11,500 kg (25,353 lb) at MTOW
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)
Cruise speed: 583 km/h (362 mph; 315 kn)
Minimum control speed: 194 km/h; 121 mph (105 kn)
Range: 1,759 km (1,093 mi; 950 nmi) with MTOW of 30,500 kilograms (67,200 lb)
Range at 6,000 kg payload: 4,130 km (2,230 nmi)
Ferry range: 5,852 km (3,636 mi; 3,160 nmi)
Service ceiling: 9,144 m (30,000 ft)




*