Lockheed Martin has now signed a joint venture agreement with Alenia to develop and market a tactical airlifter based on the Italian company's G222.
The new aircraft model, called the C-27J, will take the cockpit and advanced systems of the Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules, now in flight-test, and integrate them into the G222, which was developed by Alenia for the Italian Air Force.
Under the terms of the agreement the two companies will be equal partners in the project with Lockheed Martin providing engineering as needed as well as product support and Alenia doing most of the fabrication as well as final assembly and flight testing.
Market
"There is a tremendous worldwide market for a technically-advanced, medium-sized, tactical airlifter and the C-27J is an outstanding solution," says John McLellan, president of Lockheed Martin's Aeronautical Systems.
Lockheed Martin adds that the twin-engine aircraft will be a "beautiful fit" with its current product line because it will be around half the cost and half the size of the C-130J.
It fits with the company's strategy to widen its presence in the airlift market.
Source: Flight Daily News
