The US military Future Cargo Aircraft (FCA) requirement could stretch to 150 aircraft, which would push the C-27J Spartan project well into profitability - if it can win the initial US Army FCA contract for 33 aircraft.
The break-even for the programme is around 150 aircraft, and it is making progress, with12 aircraft sold to the Greek air force, eight ordered by the Bulgarian air force and the 12 ordered by the Italian air force.
The US sales and marketing structure of the project has changed significantly, with Lockheed Martin no longer having a shareholding in the Alenia-led project, even though its industrial participation in the project has not changed.
The suggestion was that Lockheed Martin had lent its name to the project in order to give credibility necessary to get it on to the US shopping list.
Alenia North America president Giuseppe Giordo says the change was made because the R&D phase of the project was complete. "Lockheed Martin is still part of the team - its manufacturing role has not changed. But it is no longer a shareholder."
The aircraft is now being sold to US customers by Global Military Aircraft Systems (GMAS), a 50:50 joint venture between Alenia Aeronautica and US logistics and aircraft modification specialist L-3 Communications that was established earlier this year. Alenia, a subsidiary of Italian industrial giant Finmeccanica, handles sales in Europe and the rest of the world.
Bob Drewes, president of L-3 Communications, believes the C-27J has significant advantages over its main FCA rival, the EADS Casa C295, thanks to its larger load bay. Military pallets can be loaded directly on to the C-27J from larger freighters such as C-17 or C-130 without the need to break them down into smaller containers. And vehicles such as Humvees can be driven intact straight on to the C-27J.
The initial FCA contract will replace Shorts C-23 Sherpas with the US Army and National Guard. The winning bid will be announced next year.
Drewes believes the initial order will lead to more business: "Once the C-27J forms part of the US military fleet, other US armed forces will be interested in acquiring it."
At Paris, the second C-27 destined for the Greek air force is in the static park. Alenia expects to deliver the first aircraft soon, and two more by year-end. The C-27 is also being offered to Canada for use in search and rescue.
Source: Flight Daily News
