C-27J: The unrivalled multi-mission airlifter

Rugged, reliable, proven, versatile

The C-27J Spartan, the most effective multi-mission medium turboprop airlifter available on the market today, is able to operate from the most rudimentary airstrips and in extreme environmental conditions.

With 85 aircraft already sold to 15 operators across five continents, the C-27J offers high operational effectiveness together with competitive costs, extreme flexibility and interoperability with larger airlifters.

Multiple capabilities

Thanks to multiple roll-on/roll-off easily installable and transportable mission kits and systems, the C-27J can be quickly configured to carry out tactical transport including troops, cargo, paratroops and cargo airdrop, Medevac/Casevac, VIPs, and also transport for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief support and firefighting.

Unrivalled abilities

The C-27J has the largest cargo bay in its class with a unique strong cargo floor supporting almost five tons per square meter and adjustable both in height and inclination, to facilitate operations. The C-27J also has the best descent and climb rate (4,000 - 2,500 ft/min), it can perform 3 g tactical maneuvers, and it is qualified to perform short take-offs and landings (STOL) on snowy, sandy and unprepared airfields.

Battlefield airlifter

The combat proven C-27J can be equipped with a full Defensive Aids Sub-Systems suite, secure communications and battlefield ballistic protection in order to operate in high threat environments, delivering cargo, light trucks and personnel wherever they are needed. Its Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) guarantees autonomous operations.

State-of-the-art avionics

To increase safety and reliability, the avionics architecture is fully redundant and guarantees excellent performance and low pilot workload in all environmental conditions and all operational theatres. The glass cockpit includes five colour Multipurpose Display Units, radar for tactical transport missions and a comprehensive communications suite. Optional systems include air-to-air refuelling, selfprotection and head-up displays.

Technical data

MAXIMUM TAKE-OFF WEIGHT (normal - 2.5g) - 32,500kg- 71,650 lb

MAXIMUM PAYLOAD (logistic - 2.5g) - 11,600 kg- 25,574 lb

TROOP TRANSPORT 46 (up to 60 in high density config.)

POWERPLANT 2 ROLLS- ROYCE AE2100-D2A 3,458 kW - 4,637 Shp

TOP CRUISE SPEED 602 km/h - 325 KTAS

MAXIMUM SERVICE CEILING 7,620 m - 30,000 ft

Worldwide customers

Italy, Greece, Lithuania, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, United States (Army Special Operations Command and Coast Guard), Morocco, Mexico, Chad, Australia, Peru, Kenya and an undisclosed sub-Saharan African country are the customers of the C-27J. Italy, Romania, and the United States have also purchased C-27J aircrew training flight simulators from Leonardo’s Aircraft Division.

A different beast – the RAAF’s C-27J Spartan

Much like the Hercules and Globemaster, the C-27J Spartan battlefield airlifter can: - airdrop cargo and paratroops inflight;

- airlift a variety of cargo loads and conduct aeromedical evacuation of sick or wounded personnel.

The C-27J Spartan battlefield airlifter complements the Australian Defence Force’s existing air mobility fleet. Its capabilities bridge the gap between Army helicopters, such as the CH-47F Chinook, and larger Air Force aircraft, such as the C-130J Hercules and C-17A Globemaster III.

The Spartan will provide airlift of people, equipment and supplies in Australia and the region, operating from unsurfaced airstrips, and supporting humanitarian missions in remote locations.

C-27J Spartan reaches isolated airfields to provide urgent fuel stocks

Last February, RAAF No. 35 Squadron C-27J Spartan aircraft and personnel from Amberley responded swiftly to deliver personnel and urgent fuel stocks to Mt Isa and western Queensland in support of flood relief efforts.

The first two flights to western Queensland on 9 February were the first flights of the year for the

squadron and marked the start of flying operations two days earlier than had been scheduled from their new base at Amberley.

Loadmaster Sergeant Jay Goggin said two RAAF C-27J Spartan aircraft and crew worked with Australian Army personnel from 9th Force Support Battalion to load Drum Fabric Collapsible bladders containing 1,895 litres of urgent fuel stocks.

“These fuel bladders were delivered to the isolated areas of Richmond and Julia Creek for local civilian helicopters dropping fodder and hay to farmers and livestock devastated by the extreme weather conditions,” Sergeant Goggin said.

Executive Officer No. 35 Squadron, Squadron Leader Mark Seery, said the deployed team consisted of pilots, loadmasters, technicians and engineers who flew the stores more than 1,500km to western Queensland.

“The C-27J Spartan is an agile aircraft that can land in austere airfields and along dirt strips enabling the quick insertion of supplies to

areas that need it most and would have otherwise been inaccessible for larger aircraft or via road transport,” SQNLDR Seery said.

No. 35 Squadron continued to provide humanitarian aid and disaster relief in support of the Whole of Government and Defence efforts over several week weeks.

Commanding Officer No. 35 Squadron, Wing Commander Ben Poxon said the ongoing flood relief response would be a “hub and spoke” operation highlighting the strength and flexibility of the air mobility fleet.

The squadron worked closely with RAAF C-17A Globemaster aircraft to move more supplies to those affected by the floods.

“The C-17A will fly multiple fuel bladders into larger, more established airfields [hubs] like Mt Isa airport where the C-27J will transport to smaller, remote airfields [spokes] where Army personnel are ready waiting to unload,” WGCDR Poxon said.

RAAF welcomes 10th and final C-27J Spartan into service

In April, the then Australian Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, and Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, congratulated the RAAF on completing the upgrade to the Australian Defence Force’s comprehensive fleet of air mobility platforms.

Minister Payne said the Spartan was a highly versatile aircraft that would enhance battlefield airlift capability of the Australian Defence Force.

“The Spartan provides flexibility to Defence operations, allowing us to land at airfields that are smaller or unsuitable for our much larger transport aircraft like the C-130J Hercules and C-17A Globemaster,” Minister Payne said.

“The Spartan can carry up to five tonnes of cargo and is capable of moving troops, equipment and supplies; conducting aero-medical evacuation missions and conducting air drops.”

Initial Operating Capability for the Spartan was declared in late 2016, and Final Operating Capability is scheduled to be declared in late 2019.