C-27J debuts in Lithuania

Transports will ensure NATO interoperability, but An-26s will continue for some time

The Lithuanian air force accepted its first of three Alenia Aeronautica C-27J Spartan tactical transports into service at Šiauliai airbase on 22 December. Acquired under a €75 million ($98.9 million) deal signed last June, which also covers training services and logistics support, the aircraft will be used to modernise Lithuania's transport fleet, which is now headed by three Antonov An-26s. The purchase will also ensure NATO interoperability while providing transport, medical evacuation and logistics support services to a battalion-sized task group deployed overseas, says the defence ministry's 2006 White Paper.

Initial operational capability will be achieved within the next three to five months on the availability of at least one trained aircrew, says Lt Col Audronis Navickas, base commander at Šiauliai. Alenia says 12 Lithuanian personnel, including four pilots, have completed training in Turin. The remainder will be trained in Italy by 2008.

Lithuania's two remaining C-27Js will be delivered in 2008 and 2009 in a fully equipped configuration equivalent to that selected by the Italian air force. This will include air-to-air refuelling, an expanded avionics suite and defensive aids subsystem for self-defence.

Navickas says An-26 operations will continue for some time. "While the C-27Js will take over the majority of duties of the An-26Bs, two will be kept in service," he says. "Their current service life can span at least up to 2012."