December 4, 200619 yr From Defense Aerospace Alenia Aeronautica's C-27J Chalks Up Another Success (Source: Finmeccanica; issued Dec. 1, 2006) ROME --- Alenia Aeronautica’s C-27J has chalked up another international success and is fast establishing itself as the next-generation tactical aircraft of choice for new NATO member countries. Romania’s Ministry of Defence has invited Alenia Aeronautica to take part in exclusive final negotiations to supply the C-27J to replace its Air Force’s current fleet of medium-sized transport aircraft. The final contract is for seven aircraft, worth a total of around EUR 220 million, and is expected to be signed by the end of the year. The planes will be equipped with a complete self-protection system to allow them to carry out inter-theatre missions in any operational scenario under maximum security conditions. The C-27J, preferred to EADS-CASA’s C-295, was chosen by Romania thanks to its operational characteristics and the fact that it is the only aircraft of its category specifically designed for tactical transport. In addition to Italy (12 aircraft) and Greece (12), the C-27J has also recently been ordered by Bulgaria (8) and Lithuania (3), and is currently being evaluated by the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia. Recently, it successfully completed a series of trials in the US to meet the requirements from the Air Force and the Army for 145 planes for their Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) programme. The final decision on this contract is expected by March 2007. The C-27J can perform multiple missions, such as transporting troops, cargo and medical supplies, performing airdrops, dropping paratroopers, fighting fires and supporting civil protection operations. It can take off and land from unprepared landing strips of less than 500 metres, with a maximum weight on take-off of 30,000 kg; it can transport 62 combat-equipped soldiers or up to 46 paratroopers, and in the air-ambulance version, 36 stretchers and 6 medical staff.
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