Description:
The C-27J Spartan is an advanced transport aircraft based on the proven G.222 aircraft and the addition of C-130J-associated technology and improvements. Lockheed-Martin and Alenia Aeronautica (Finmeccanica) have developed and are marketing this aircraft. The Spartan features the Rolls Royce AE 2100D2 engines derived from the engines powering the C-130J cargo aircraft, as well as avionics, propellers and floor strength.
Alenia Aeronautica, a Finmeccanica subsidiary, announced that the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense selected the C-27J Spartan transport aircraft on 6 April 2005. The final agreement for five firm order C-27Js plus three options was signed on February 24, 2006. These aircraft were meant to replace Bulgaria's An-26 fleet. Aircraft deliveries were scheduled to start in 2007 through 2011 at a rate of one C-27J per year.
To date, the C-27J has been ordered by Italy, Greece and Bulgaria. It is suitable for midsize missions requiring less airlift capability than provided by a single Hercules. As of May 2005, the C-27J aircraft is candidate for the United States program Future Cargo Aircraft (FCA). The aircraft has been proposed and is under study by Canada, Portugal, Australia, Taiwan and Ireland.
On 26 June 2006, Alenia Aeronautica and the Armed Forces of the Republic of
Lithuania signed a €75 million ($89 million) contract for the supply of three
C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft. The first C-27J was scheduled for
delivery in late 2006 with the second aircraft joining the Lithuanian Air Force
in 2008 and the third in 2009. The Lithuanian Air Force requires the C-27J as
modern replacement for their Soviet-made An-26 twin-engine transports.
Specifications Accommodation: Crew 3, Passengers 46
Dimensions: Length 23 m, Wingspan 10.6 m
Weights: Max Weight 30,000 kg (66,138 lb), Payload 11,500 kg (25,353 lb)
Performance: Ceiling 8,382 m (27,500 ft), Cruise Speed 155 mps (Mach 0.47), Max Range 1,950 km (1,053 nm)
Not confirmed non-NATO Mediterranean customer announced in September 2008; confirmed as Morocco one month later
Romania / 7
United States of America / 78
Aircraft ordered under Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) program. The program's scope is to supply up to 207 C-27J Spartans to the United States Armed Forces (US Army + US Air Force) by 2017. JCA will replace US Air Force's C-130 aircraft and US Army's C-12, C-26 and C-23 airplanes.
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Notes (*) lead contractor
IOC: Initial Operating Capability
FOC: Full Operating Capability
CEP: Circular Error Probable
Comm: Commissioning Date
Meters (m) Kilometers (km) Nautic Miles (nm) Inch (in) Yard (yd) Foot (ft) Millimeter (mm)
Pound (lb) Kilogram (kg) kN (KiloNewton) Ton (t)
Meters per Second (mps) Kilometers per Hour (kph) Knot (kt) Miles per Hour (mph)
Liter (l) Galon (gl)
Year (yr) Minutes (min) Second (sec)
Shaft-Horse-Power (shp)
Bulgaria / 5 
Greece / 12 
Italy / 12 
Lithuania / 3 
Morocco / 4 
Romania / 7 
United States of America / 78 
Aircraft ordered under Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) program. The program's scope is to supply up to 207 C-27J Spartans to the United States Armed Forces (US Army + US Air Force) by 2017. JCA will replace US Air Force's C-130 aircraft and US Army's C-12, C-26 and C-23 airplanes.