According to local news and www.C-27J.com the contract has been awarded to begin building 67 C-27J's for USAF/USArmy (can anyone remember Caribou?), with first flight in about 1 year. Contract control will be headquartered in Waco, TX, probably at TSTC Airfield where numerous military electronic upgrade and some airframe upgrade projects are done. Also where AF1 drops off the Pres when he comes to the ranch. Main construction will be done in Italy, with some work in Georgia and final work done at Waco. Will be used to reduce the number of road marches in places like Iraq, thereby reducing exposure to roadside bombs etc. This is well proven aircraft so no long development times are involved, and in earlier model, C-27A, used in numerous military organizations around the world (according to GlobalSecurity.com), and uses the same engines and props as the C-130J, and is cargo compatible with the same. Thought you might like to know!

Ron