Aviation Naval Warfare Land Systems Small Arms Space By Flag By Year By Tag

Leonardo C-27 Spartan

1997 MODERN AIRCRAFT

Leonardo C-27 Spartan History

Alenia C-27 "Spartan" is a medium transport and joint development project co-founded by Alenia, Italy and Lockheed Martin, USA. The aircraft was largely based on the existing - and somewhat successful - Alenia G. 222 twin-engine medium transport aircraft, which first flew in 1970 and entered service with several countries (including the Italian Air Force) in 1978.

Production of this type lasted from 1970 to 1993, with 111 eventually produced. The original G.222 was developed following a NATO requirement, which was further developed by a request from the Italian Air Force that produced a global replacement for the American Lockheed C-130 Hercules transport aircraft of the 1950s. The G.222 offers similar mid-range capability and short runway operation while inheriting many of the C-130's successful design qualities (including its high-mounted wings and raised tail for easy handling, and approved ground clearance) ).

In 1990, as part of its Rapid Response Intratheater Airlift (RRITA) program, the United States Air Force (USAF) was seeking a medium-range, responsive transport aircraft with the Italian G.222 as the C-27A "Steel" Bada". These G.222s receive American avionics from Chrysler Aerospace and are based at Howard Air Force Base in Panama. In 1995, Alenia and Lockheed Martin officially joined forces to integrate the "all-glass" cockpit and GE T64G engine (driving the four-bladed propeller assembly) developed for the upcoming C-130J "Super Hercules" into the existing G.222 integrated cells.

This joint initiative - under the new brand "Lockheed Martin Alenia Tactical Transport System" (LMATTS) - began under the also new designation "C-27J", which appeared in 1996 (reserved the Spartan designation), and the GE engine in the development program was dropped in favor of an improved Rolls-Royce AR 2100 turboprop lineup, while the original four-bladed propeller was dropped in favor of an updated six-bladed propeller. The resulting configuration produced an aircraft superior to the original Alenia G. 222 design, capable of flying faster and farther than previously anticipated.

Serial production followed, and the C-27J entered service with the Italian Air Force in 2006.

In 2006, Lockheed dropped its Alenia partnership to distance itself from the competing C-27Js and attempted to supply the USAF/US Army with a modernized C-130J Super Hercules for use in Their new "Joint Cargo Aircraft" Sales (JCA) requirements. Rival Raytheon teamed up with EADS North America to showcase the Spanish-built CASA C-295 twin-engine transport aircraft, while Alenia teamed up with Boeing and L-3 Communications to promote the Global Military Aircraft Systems (GMAC) Alliance's C-27J to form the Spartan.

The Pentagon selected the C-27J, and the first flight of the U.S. C-27J was recorded on June 17, 2008.

The U.S. Army plans to receive up to 75 C-27J airframes, while the U.S. Air Force expects a total order of around 70. Production of the U.S. C-27J will take place on-site at Cecil Airport in Florida. To date (2012), the US military has ordered 38 C-27J Spartans.

Italy will support 12 examples, as will Greece. Romania signed seven examples, while Mexico and Morocco signed four each. Bulgaria and Lithuania have three each, while Australia will be another foreign recipient (up to ten). Canada is also reportedly interested in the breed, while Slovakia intends to procure a pair of specimens.

India is interested in 16 such aircraft, Taiwan is looking for six and the Philippines is looking for three. Many of these C-27J systems on order will begin or have already begun deliveries in 2012, with future orders expected to run between now and 2015 and beyond.

Specifications for the C-27J include a cargo capacity of 60 combat-ready infantry, 46 airborne troops, or 36 appropriately staffed medics. Full load capacity is approximately 25,350 lbs. The aircraft has a barrel length of 74.5 feet, a wingspan of just over 94 feet, and a height of 31.7 feet. It is powered by 2 Rolls-Royce AE2100-D2A turboprop engines, each producing 4,600 hp. Top speed is 374 mph and cruising speed is 362 mph.

The range is up to 6,000 miles with and without a load. The aircraft can reach a service ceiling of 30,000 feet.

The C-27J family was further developed into the MC-27J "Multi-Mission" platform (including the gunship sub-variant) and the EC027 "Jedi", intended as a dedicated Electronic Warfare Aircraft (EWA) - the latter directly linked to Lockheed EC-130H "Compass Call" competition. The AC-27J Stinger II was a planned dedicated (though eventually abandoned) gunship program intended for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army, although a lack of funding led to its demise.

The C-27J "Pretoria" is an Italian Air Force program to develop a multi-role variant for special operations forces, equipped with specialized communications and countermeasures equipment and various weapon options for close air support.

Alenia Aermacchi and Alliant Techsystems launched their MC-27J gunship conversion kit in the summer of 2012. The kit primarily revolves around mounting a pallet that mounts a 30mm GAU-23 Bushmaster cannon that can be attached to the fuselage of any existing C-27J aircraft in a matter of hours, making it an economical and logistical C- Friendly solution 27J operator.

The gun was fired from its fixed position on the side of the shore plane, and the gunner used the basic aiming system in its original form. Future tests will introduce more advanced optical tracking systems to increase flexibility and accuracy. In addition to the proposed 30mm artillery armament, the MC-27J will have integrated support for launching Hellfire anti-tank missiles (ATGMs) and a 2.75-inch rocket pod.

In this way, the Alenia product is sure to threaten Lockheed's market share in the mid-lift category -- considering its C-130 Hercules fleet will reach its useful technological end point over the next decade or so.

In early 2013, the USAF announced that it would mothball its new fleet of 21 C-27Js due to cost concerns. These can be passed on to the U.S. Coast Guard, which has about 14 similarly sized aircraft on the market, or the Forest Service for firefighting. Seven C-27Js were assigned to U.S.

Army Special Operations Command (SOCOM) for parachute training.