Jon Lake
The US Army has announced the award of an initial $2.04 billion contract to L-3 Communications Integrated Systems for the supply of 78 Lockheed Martin/Alenia C-27J Spartans to meet the Army/Air Force Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) requirement, and for the provision of associated pilot and loadmaster training and logistics support.
The Spartan has been selected ahead of the CASA C-295, offered by Raytheon/EADS North America. Many analysts believe that the C-27J contract, awarded on June 13, mark a victory for the USAF, which is believed to have favoured the Spartan, while the US Army’s preferred choice was said the be the C-295.
Derivative
The C-27J Spartan is an advanced derivative of the Alenia G.222 fitted with the engines of the Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules, with a similar glass cockpit and with many common systems. The eventual JCA requirement is for about 145 aircraft. Some 54 of the aircraft ordered are destined for the US Army, with 24 for the US Air Force.
The Army saw JCA as providing a platform that could reach what it called "the last tactical mile". For the USAF the aircraft is intended to augment the larger C-130 Hercules in the intra-theatre airlift role, flying troop transport, airdrop, logistical re-supply, MEDEVAC, and humanitarian assistance as well as missions in support of Homeland Security.
Source: Flight Daily News
