ARLINGTON, Va. (Army News Service, Nov. 2, 2009) -- For the first time ever, the Air National Guard will be the sole operator of a new aircraft straight off the assembly line.
The C-27J Spartan, the latest propeller-driven airlifter, is an "extremely rugged" aircraft, designed for austere environments, said Air Force officials. It is about half the size of a C-130 with 3.5 cargo pallet positions.
"It is the first time in Air Force history where the service acquired a new airframe solely owned, operated and maintained by the Air National Guard," said Lt. Col. Chris Beckman, the ANG's aviation planning and execution chief.
In April, through Resource Management Decision 802, Defense Secretary Robert Gates moved the C-27J program and its related direct support mission from the Army to the Air Force.
Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr., supported Gates' decision saying "we need the capability to re-supply our forces. We do not have to fly the planes to get that."
He added that flying fixed-wing aircraft is not the Army's core competency.
The Army lost its fiscal year 2010 monies for the C-27J due to RMD 802, so the Air Force will fund the Army's completion of the Multi-Service Operational Test and Evaluation (MOT&E).
"ANG pilots and loadmasters from the 179th Airlift Wing (in Mansfield, Ohio) and the 175th Wing (in Baltimore) will be the first operational C-27J crews to be trained and deployed and are critical participants in the upcoming MOT&E," Beckman said. "The MOT&E, which is scheduled for April 2010, will determine if the C-27J program is ready for deployment and domestic operations."
Two Army National Guard units, Company H, 171st Aviation Regiment from Georgia and 1st Battalion, 245th Airfield Operations Battalion from Oklahoma, will also participate in the MOT&E.
The Air Force will field 24 C-27J's at ANG units in the following locations: Baltimore, Mansfield, Fargo, N.D., Bradley Air Field, Conn., Battle Creek, Mich., and Meridian, Miss.
My questions: Is the procurement still set at 38 or down to 24? A caption on a photo with the article shows the aircraft in early 2009 flight testing on the ramp at Redstone Arsenal, AL., and says the procurement is 38 going to the ANG., and as late as 26 Oct an article on the offical USAF site stated 38. If so, are the other 14 going to active Air Force units or undetermined ANG units, or later fills at the above locations? Hmm...
