The Australian Authorities has signed a Commonwealth Avionics Improve Acquisition Contract for the C-27J Spartan Mild Tactical Fastened Wing fleet. The $70 million contract with Leonardo will outcome within the substitute and improve of present radio functionality, additional bettering the general security and suitability of the C-27J platform.Leonardo was chosen to undertake the improve because the Prime contractor and the unique producer of the Spartan. They maintain specialist information and the experience wanted to conduct these main modifications to the plane. No. 35 Squadron and Northrop Grumman personnel will modify the C-27J as a part of routine upkeep. The Commonwealth Avionics Improve will start in September 2023 at RAAF Base Amberley and is because of be accomplished in 2026.
Head of Aerospace Methods Division, Air Vice-Marshal (AVM) Leon Phillips stated,”The C-27J Spartan was an necessary functionality for the Royal Australian Air Drive (RAAF). Operated by No. 35 Squadron, the C-27J Spartan fleet supplies important transportation and aerial supply of passengers, troops and cargo, assist to look and rescue missions, and aeromedical evacuation in our area. Upgrading the cryptographic radio operate of the C-27J platform will guarantee ongoing availability of safe communications, together with interoperability with key strategic companions and intelligence networks, and elevated general security for our Australian Defence Drive personnel.”
Commercial
The Alenia C-27J Spartan is a navy transport plane developed and manufactured by Leonardo’s Plane Division (previously Alenia Aermacchi till 2016). It’s a sophisticated spinoff of Alenia Aeronautica’s earlier G.222 (C-27A Spartan in U.S. service), geared up with the engines and varied different programs additionally used on the bigger Lockheed Martin C-130J Tremendous Hercules. Along with the usual transport configuration, specialised variants of the C-27J have been developed for maritime patrol, search and rescue, C3 ISR, hearth assist/ground-attack and digital warfare missions. The C-27J has additionally been ordered by the navy air models of Australia, Bulgaria, Chad, Italy, Greece, Kenya, Lithuania, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Zambia and an undisclosed nation.
Royal Australian Air Drive ordered ten C-27Js, deliveries begun in 2014 and ending in April 2018. They’re operated by No. 35 Squadron and primarily based at RAAF Base Amberley. The C-27J Spartan enhances the Australian Defence Drive’s present air mobility fleet. They’re the long-awaited replacements for the Vietnam Struggle-era Caribous that had been withdrawn from service in 2009. The C-27J was chosen over the arguably much less succesful however cheaper Airbus C-295. The capabilities of the C-27J bridge the hole between Australian Military helicopters and bigger Royal Australian Air Drive plane. The Spartan can function from unsurfaced airstrips, and assist humanitarian missions in distant places. Very like the Royal Australian Air Drive Hercules and Globemaster, the C-27J Spartan can: airdrop cargo and paratroops in-flight; airlift a wide range of cargo hundreds; and conduct aeromedical evacuation of sick or wounded personnel.
