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 the former 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. 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/ground-attack and electronic warfare 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) retired the C-27J after only a short service life due to budget cuts. They were reassigned to the U.S. Coast Guard and United States Special Operations Command. The C-27J has been ordered by the military air units of Azerbaijan, Australia, Bulgaria, Chad, Greece, Italy, Kenya, Lithuania, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Zambia.
Design and development In 1995, Alenia and Lockheed Martin began discussions to improve Alenia's G.222 using C-130J's glass cockpit and a more powerful version of the G.222's T64G engine and three-blade propellers. In 1996, a program began on an improved G.222, named C-27J. It used a U.S. military type designation based on the G.222's C-27A designation. In 1997, Alenia and Lockheed Martin formed Lockheed Martin Alenia Tactical Transport Systems (LMATTS) to develop the C-27J. The design changed to use the C-130J Super Hercules's Rolls-Royce AE 2100 engine and six-blade propeller.Frawley, Gerald. "LMATTS C-27J Spartan". The International Directory of Military Aircraft, 2002/2003. Fishwyck, ACT: Aerospace Publications, 2002. . Other changes include a fully digital MIL-STD-1553 systems and avionics architecture, and an updated cargo compartment for increased commonality. The C-27J has a 35% increase in range and a 15% faster cruise speed than the G.222.
The C-27J first flew on 24 September 1999. Two months later, the Italian air force was the launch customer of the C-27J, ordering 12 Spartans. At the time, the C-27J had a basic price of US$24 million. After over 400 hours of flight tests spanning less than 13 months, the aircraft was granted civil certification by the Italian Civil Aviation Authority at the Paris Air Show in June 2001. Military certification followed in December 2001.
In 2005, the U.S. Army identified the need to replace its aging Short C-23 Sherpa lifter. The Army does not operate many fixed wing aircraft (see also Key West Agreement), but they lost a C-23B in 2001 in which 21 died. This was the worst peacetime aviation disaster of the U.S. National Guard. 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. The U.S. Army sought the C-27J for its direct support capabilities, and to reduce demands on the CH-47 fleet.Weisgerber, Marcus. "C-27J battle splits Air Force, Guard." Air Force Times, 5 December 2011.
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.Fulghum, David and Andy Nativi. "LM To Join JCA Competition With Four-Engine Offering." Aviation Week, 1 May 2006. Alenia Aeronautica then paired with L-3 Communications, forming the Global Military Aircraft Systems (GMAS) joint venture to market the C-27J;"C-27J Team." "C-27J Spartan." Retrieved: 11 June 2011. 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."C-27J successfully completes Army, Air Force early user survey", Aerotech News and Review, 1 December 2006.Putrich, Gayle S. "C-27J tapped for Joint Cargo Aircraft." Air Force Times, 13 June 2007. In November 2006, the C-27J completed the U.S. Department of Defense's Early User Survey evaluations, flying 26 hours and surpassing all requirements. GMAS announced that the C-27J will be assembled at a facility at Cecil Field, Duval County, Florida. firstcoastnews.com, 14 June 2007. The JCA's final selection was expected in March 2007. It was postponed until June 2007, when the Pentagon awarded of a US$2.04 billion contract for 78 C-27Js, including training and support, to GMAS.Gettle, Master Sgt. Mitch. "C-27J Spartan named as Joint Cargo Aircraft." Air Force Public Affairs, 14 June 2007.
On 22 June 2007, Raytheon formally protested the JCA contract award for the C-27J."Raytheon details dispute over $2B deal." Associated Press, 27 June 2007. In September 2007, the GAO denied Raytheon's protest, thereby allowing the Pentagon to proceed with procurement.Tiron, Roxanna. "GAO denies protest over Joint Cargo Aircraft contract", TheHill.com, 27 September 2007. At this time, the U.S. Army had a requirement for up to 75 aircraft in the Army National Guard, and 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 planned to be delivered to the joint U.S. Army–Air Force test and training program in June 2008.Bryant, Jordan and Tom Kington. "Joint Cargo Aircraft delivery starts in a year". Army Times, 21 June 2007. The first flight of a U.S. C-27J occurred on 17 June 2008.Trimble, Stephen. "First C-27J for JCA contract makes first flight" . Flightglobal.com, 17 June 2008.
, orders stand at Australia (10), Bulgaria (3), Chad (2), Greece (8), Italy (12), Kenya (3), Lithuania (3), Mexico (4), Morocco (4), Peru (4), Romania (7), Slovakia (2), Zambia (2), United States (21), and an undisclosed country (2).. Retrieved: 31 December 2011.December 2010 "Bulgaria Changes Its Order for up to 8 C-27J 'Baby Hercs'." defenseindustrydaily, 18 December 2010."Alenia Aeronautica Signs Contract Worth 130 Million Euro to Supply Four C-27Js to Morocco." defenseworld.net. Retrieved: 8 April 2012.Brannen, Kate. Defense News, 8 July 2010.
In November 2020, Leonardo launched the C-27J Next Generation programme with new equipment, systems and aerodynamic solutions to improve operating efficiency and enhance performance. The New Generation features comprehensive new avionics to comply with the Performance Based Navigation international standard to operate in civil air space without limitations and to enhance interoperability in tactical scenarios, while new winglets contribute to improved climb performance and increase the MTOW by up to 1,000 kg.
Operational history
United States The United States received its first C-27J on 25 September 2008."L-3 Presents First Joint Cargo Aircraft to U.S. Army and Air Force." L-3 Communications, 25 September 2008. In September 2008, L-3 Link's C-27J schoolhouse began classes at the Georgia Army National Guard Flight Facility, Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. By April 2009, the U.S. Army had accepted deliveries of 2 aircraft and had 11 more on order.Trimble, Stephen. "Army orders for the C27J." flightglobal.com, 22 March 2009. In May 2009, the U.S. Army and Army National Guard relinquished all aircraft to the U.S. Air Force, primarily the Air National Guard. This led to the purchase being reduced to 38 C-27Js and the USAF receiving total control of all US C-27J. Initially, the C-27J was to be operated by the Air National Guard for direct support of the United States Army. Later, both the Army National Guard and Air National Guard flight crews support the aircraft's fielding. By July 2010, the U.S. Air National Guard had received four C-27Js for testing and training, with initial operational capability expected in October 2010.
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.Wise, 1st Lt. Abigail. "A C-27 sits at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan." U.S. Air Force, 8 August 2011. Retrieved: 13 March 2012.Peruzzi, Luca. "C-27J Spartan makes combat debut in Afghanistan." Flight International, 4 August 2011. Retrieved: 13 March 2012. Between August 2011 and June 2012, the C-27J of the 179th Airlift Wing, followed by the 175th Wing, executed more than 3,200 missions transporting over 25,000 passengers, and 1,400 tons of cargo. Via tactical control of the C-27J, the U.S. Army was able to employ helicopters more efficiently, splitting missions between the two platforms based on their relative strengths.Ewing, Philip. "Far from DC battles, C-27 gets glowing reviews." DoD Buzz, 24 April 2012.
In January 2012, the Department of Defense announced plans to retire all 38 USAF C-27Js on order because of excess intra-theater airlift capacity and budgetary pressures,"Defense Budget Priorities and Choices, p. 8" US Department of Defense, January 2012. Retrieved: 28 January 2012. with the C-130 to replace its role.Majumdar, Dave. "SecAF: Service now favors multirole aircraft." AirForce Times, 2 February 2012. In February 2012, Alenia warned that it would not provide support for C-27J resold by the U.S. to international customers in competition with future orders.Muradian, Vago. Defense News, 27 February 2012. In March 2012, the USAF announced the C-27J's retirement in fiscal year 2013 after determining other programs' budgetary needs and requirement changes for a new Pacific strategy."C-27 program cut explained, budget aligned with strategy" Air Force, 30 March 2012."Senators to Air Force: Prove C-27J cost claims." AirForce Times, 20 March 2012. The cut was opposed by the Air National Guard and by various legislators.
In July 2012, the USAF briefly suspended flight operations following a flight control system failure.Dudley, Richard. "US Air Force Grounds C-27J Fleet Due to Flight Control Failure." Defense Update, 15 July 2012. By 2013, newly built C-27J 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. A further 5 were to be built by April 2014, as they were too near completion to be worth cancelling. Budget cuts motivated the divestiture. A C-27J allegedly costs $308 million over its lifespan, in comparison with a C-130's $213 million 25-year lifespan cost.New Air Force Planes Go Directly to 'Boneyard' – Military.com, 7 October 2013.
In November 2012, the C-27J deployed for its first domestic mission, contributing to the Hurricane Sandy relief effort.
The C-27J had a flyaway cost of US$31.7M in 2012, and an average cost of US$66.2M in 2018.
In July 2013, the United States Coast Guard considered acquiring up to 14 of the 21 retired C-27J 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-27J for aerial firefighting."Surplus C-27J Spartans Could Mean Big Windfall for Coast Guard" . Nationaldefensemagazine.org, August 2013.