The Italian Air Force is finalising an order for 18 Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules IItransport aircraft, following final political approval of the proposed L2,000 billion ($1.2 billion) deal.
The move, say defence sources, comes as Italy considers buying an additional four airborne early-warning (AEW) variants of the C-130J, although budgetary constraints could mean that the last four of the 18 transports would be converted to C-130JAEWs. Deliveries of the C-130Js are due to begin in early 1999, and progress at the rate of two to three aircraft a year until 2004.
Italian industry has secured a 100% offset commitment as part of the agreement, of which 40% comes from participation in the in the C-130J programme. Around 16 Italian companies, led by Alenia and including Aermacchi and Elettronica, will share in the work. Alenia will build part of the fuselage, while engine firm Fiat Avio has negotiated work on the Rolls-Royce Allison AE2100 turboprop.
The remaining 60% of the offset is to be derived through the joint Alenia/Lockheed Martin C-27J project, aimed at developing and marketing a highly modified version of Alenia's G222 transport.
The air force's C-130Js will be assigned to the Pisa-based 46th Air Brigade, and will initially be operated alongside 12 C-130Hs, which recently underwent substantial wing refurbishment.
The C-130Hs are scheduled to be withdrawn from service between 2010 and 2015. Some of the air force's G222s will be retired from 2000, although it is planned that 20 of the transports will undergo an avionics upgrade and remain in service.
Some 20-25 additional transport aircraft will eventually be needed to replace the C-130Hs and G222s, and, officially, this requirement is to be satisfied with the purchase of the European Future Large Aircraft (FLA). Doubts over the future of the FLA programme, however, could lead to additional C-130J orders.
Source: Flight International
