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C-27J tapped for Joint Cargo Aircraft

The Pentagon gave the go-ahead late Wednesday for the Army and Air Force to award the $2 billion Joint Cargo Aircraft contract to the C-27J Spartan team of L-3 Communications Holdings, Boeing and Alenia North America, a unit of Italy’s Finmeccanica.

The Italian airframe beat out the smaller C-295, offered by Raytheon and EADS. Lockheed Martin pulled the already-in-service C-130J out of the competition last year.

The services received approval to buy 78 planes over the next six years, with 54 going to the Army and 24 to the Air Force. Also approved June 13 was funding to cover the first round of low-rate initial production, which is expected to deliver 13 planes.

Army Brig. Gen. Stephen Mundt, director of Army aviation, declined to speculate on the total number of JCAs that will ultimately be purchased.

“But I would be very, very surprised if the number turned out to be less than 145,” he said.

Analysts had recently predicted a purchase of about 75 planes for the Army and 70 for the Air Force.

“The numbers again may change,” said Maj. Gen. Marshall “Keye” Sabol, operational capability requirements director for the Air Force. “The world is changing. The Army is changing. We have a new command coming up in Africa.”

The Army will field the first Spartan unit, which is expected to become operational next year. The Air Force is expected to take delivery of its first plane in 2010.

The Army will use the JCA to replace C-12 Hurons, C-23 Sherpas and the C-26 Metroliners, all Vietnam-era aircraft that Mundt said are not built to work with the loads or the altitudes the current fight demands. In the Air Force cargo fleet, the new planes will complement the existing C-130 Hercules.

The C-25J’s 25,000-pound payload can be configured for troop or paratroop transport, cargo loading or wheeled and tracked vehicles. The twin-engine turboprop, powered by Rolls Royce AE 2100-D2 engines, also can provide medevac transport for up to 36 stretchers and six medical personnel.

The Italian Air Force already flies the Spartan, receiving the first plane Jan. 11 in Pisa. Four more are expected to be delivered before the end of July. The 12-plane Italian order is scheduled to be completed in 2008.

Alenia Aeronautica is working with U.S. partner Boeing to put together tours of and flights aboard the Spartan at next week’s Paris Air Show at Le Bourget.