DATE:22/04/09
SOURCE:Flight International
US Army orders seven more C-27J transports
By Stephen Trimble
The US Army has awarded L-3 Communications a contract to deliver the second batch of Alenia Aeronautica C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft starting in 2011.
Worth $201 million, the deal for seven aircraft raises the army's overall order to 13 under the nearly two-year-old Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) programme.
L-3 in October 2008 delivered the first two C-27Js from a previous order, and both are now being converted to perform the army transport mission. The next four transports are scheduled to be delivered after January 2010.
The army plans to buy at least 54 C-27Js under the JCA programme. The US Air Force also intends to acquire 24, but is not due to place an order until next year. The US Special Operations Command also plans to acquire C-27Js and convert them into light gunships.
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... ports.html
There is a good side shot of C-27 in the article.
US Army orders seven more C-27J transports
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From AF Daily Report 14 May 09
Army Cedes "Last Tactical Mile": In comments to reporters May 12, Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey said that the capability to resupply soldiers at forward locations via airlift is still valid but soldiers "do not have to fly the planes." Last year, the Office of the Secretary of Defense sided with the Army in a brief turf war with the Air Force over this "last tactical mile" supply mission. However, in the Fiscal 2010 defense budget proposal, OSD cut the planned buy of 78 C-27 Joint Cargo Aircraft down to 38 and shifted the entire program to the Air Force. Casey also told the reporters, according to a report in The Hill, that flying fixed-wing aircraft, presumably like the elderly C-23s that the C-27s were to replace, "is not our core competency." National Guard officials already are concerned that Army Guard units that fly the C-23s, both for national security and state missions, are going to be left without aircraft, since the C-23s may last another five years at best. A larger concern, according to Lt. Gen. Harry Wyatt III, Air National Guard director, is that OSD cut the number of C-27s. He told lawmakers earlier this month that the "color of service flying the airplane" matters less than filling the requirement, which currently is set at 78 aircraft. There is also fear that some Air Guard units that banked on getting the JCA aircraft to replace flying missions lost to BRAC 2005 will now not receive the new intratheater airlifter. For example, Ohio's Congressional delegation has sent letters to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, citing their concerns about the Air Guard's 179th Airlift Wing, reports the Mansfield News Journal.
Army Cedes "Last Tactical Mile": In comments to reporters May 12, Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey said that the capability to resupply soldiers at forward locations via airlift is still valid but soldiers "do not have to fly the planes." Last year, the Office of the Secretary of Defense sided with the Army in a brief turf war with the Air Force over this "last tactical mile" supply mission. However, in the Fiscal 2010 defense budget proposal, OSD cut the planned buy of 78 C-27 Joint Cargo Aircraft down to 38 and shifted the entire program to the Air Force. Casey also told the reporters, according to a report in The Hill, that flying fixed-wing aircraft, presumably like the elderly C-23s that the C-27s were to replace, "is not our core competency." National Guard officials already are concerned that Army Guard units that fly the C-23s, both for national security and state missions, are going to be left without aircraft, since the C-23s may last another five years at best. A larger concern, according to Lt. Gen. Harry Wyatt III, Air National Guard director, is that OSD cut the number of C-27s. He told lawmakers earlier this month that the "color of service flying the airplane" matters less than filling the requirement, which currently is set at 78 aircraft. There is also fear that some Air Guard units that banked on getting the JCA aircraft to replace flying missions lost to BRAC 2005 will now not receive the new intratheater airlifter. For example, Ohio's Congressional delegation has sent letters to Defense Secretary Robert Gates, citing their concerns about the Air Guard's 179th Airlift Wing, reports the Mansfield News Journal.
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That was the first thing I thought about when you posted that update last week, "what are the Mansfield guys and the rest of the ANG units waiting on this aircraft supposed to do now". Just from my local knowledge, if that unit in Mansfield goes away, the airport itself won't be far behind. Ohio like many other places in the US cannot afford to lose more jobs.
-Mike G.
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More Spin from Gates
From AF Daily Report 15 May 09
Hercules vs. Spartan: The proposed reduction in the number of C-27 Spartan Joint Cargo Aircraft from 78 to 38 has to do with a surfeit of C-130 Hercules theater airlifters, according to Defense Secretary Robert Gates. The Pentagon boss told lawmakers during a House hearing May 13 (see above) that there are "over 200 C-130s that are available and uncommitted" that could fulfill the tactical airlift mission. And, he said, "The C-27 has half the payload of a C-130 and costs two-thirds as much; it can use exactly one percent more runways or airstrips than the C-130." Gates called the notion that cutting the JCA numbers would hinder the National Guard from performing its homeland mission "not sustainable." National Guard officials have testified that the requirement for the Spartan is still 78 aircraft. Although Gates does not agree, he said it would be a matter for the Quadrennial Defense Review. Rep. Jim Marshall (D-Ga.) reminded Gates that an Institute for Defense Analyses study concluded that the "JCA is a very important, cost-effective ingredient" for these "long-term, low-level engagements." Surprisingly, Gates replied that the JCA decision really sprang from the Army and Air Force, saying, "We were basically bystanders on that one." That said, he acknowledged that the Air Force and the Army still must work out the details for the last-tactical-mile mission. Gates added, "The reality is … there are going to have to be changes in the Air Force culture" about the tactical airlift mission.
Doesn't say anything about the 'tooth to tail' requirements. The costs in maintenance, ground support, aircrew, etc for the C-130 vs the C27.
Hercules vs. Spartan: The proposed reduction in the number of C-27 Spartan Joint Cargo Aircraft from 78 to 38 has to do with a surfeit of C-130 Hercules theater airlifters, according to Defense Secretary Robert Gates. The Pentagon boss told lawmakers during a House hearing May 13 (see above) that there are "over 200 C-130s that are available and uncommitted" that could fulfill the tactical airlift mission. And, he said, "The C-27 has half the payload of a C-130 and costs two-thirds as much; it can use exactly one percent more runways or airstrips than the C-130." Gates called the notion that cutting the JCA numbers would hinder the National Guard from performing its homeland mission "not sustainable." National Guard officials have testified that the requirement for the Spartan is still 78 aircraft. Although Gates does not agree, he said it would be a matter for the Quadrennial Defense Review. Rep. Jim Marshall (D-Ga.) reminded Gates that an Institute for Defense Analyses study concluded that the "JCA is a very important, cost-effective ingredient" for these "long-term, low-level engagements." Surprisingly, Gates replied that the JCA decision really sprang from the Army and Air Force, saying, "We were basically bystanders on that one." That said, he acknowledged that the Air Force and the Army still must work out the details for the last-tactical-mile mission. Gates added, "The reality is … there are going to have to be changes in the Air Force culture" about the tactical airlift mission.
Doesn't say anything about the 'tooth to tail' requirements. The costs in maintenance, ground support, aircrew, etc for the C-130 vs the C27.
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It almost makes it sound like the US military doesn't even need the C-27's in the first place.
-Mike G.
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From AF Daily Report 28 May 09
Down in the Weeds Over JCA: Airmen and soldiers are working out the fine details that surround the shift of the "last tactical mile" supply mission from the Army to the Air Force, so says the vice chiefs of staff of the two services. Grilled by House Armed Services readiness panel lawmakers last week over the right number of C-27 Spartan Joint Cargo Aircraft and whether airmen would indeed meet the direct—and immediate—supply needs of soldiers at forward locations, Air Force Lt. Gen. William Fraser and Army Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli acknowledged that the two services must get the details down in writing. Chiarelli explained: "We can't just talk direct support, because direct support is absolutely key and critical for us. … We are down now into the weeds of, you know, when the Army defines direct support for this particular aircraft, what exactly does that mean." Fraser declared: "We are committed to this mission of direct support for the Army." He said an Air Force team is working with the Army program office on the procurement program shift, while the Air Force is also working with Army, Army National Guard, and Air National Guard to sort out the fielding process. Fraser said he and Chiarelli also have held "several meetings" with Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley, National Guard Bureau chief. Chiarelli said, "The Air Force is fully signed up for direct support," and he added, "We are ensuring that we go into that with our eyes open on exactly what that means to both of us."
And, the Number Is?: Lawmakers continue to press Air Force and Army officials over the Pentagon 2010 budget proposal to reduce the number of C-27 Spartan Joint Cargo Aircraft from 78 to just 38. At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing last week, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley emphasized that the final number has yet to be decided. He referred to early studies, including ones by the Army and RAND, that said the "78 aircraft package, which was split between the Army and the Air Force, originally at 54 and 24 respectively, is a valid need." Noting that the 38 C-27s included in the 2010 are intended to replace the Army's 42 elderly C-23 Sherpas, Donley declared, "I see 38 C-27s as the floor, not the ceiling." At the same hearing, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said that the Air Force plans to pursue over the summer "the break point between the C-27 capability and the C-130 capability." Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said that there is excess capacity within the C-130 tactical airlifter fleet, but Donley said he is open to a discussion on the number of C-27s ultimately purchased.
Who Will Fly the JCA?: According to Air Force Gen. Norton Schwartz the answer to that question is "not fully cooked, but it will be by the end of the month," testifying at the May 21 Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the 2010 Air Force budget proposal. However, that report is not necessarily for public consumption, for as Air Force Secretary Michael Donley pointed out that report is due to Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn. Donley said, too, "I do not think this report will be the last report; I think this is an interim description of how far the conversations have gone, what issues we've identified, and the path we have outlined forward … related to the future bed downs, related to the program management transfer of responsibility." When pressed as to whether the Army National Guard would still fly the new C-27s, Schwartz replied, "How this is going to lay in and who's going to do it is not yet a done deal
Down in the Weeds Over JCA: Airmen and soldiers are working out the fine details that surround the shift of the "last tactical mile" supply mission from the Army to the Air Force, so says the vice chiefs of staff of the two services. Grilled by House Armed Services readiness panel lawmakers last week over the right number of C-27 Spartan Joint Cargo Aircraft and whether airmen would indeed meet the direct—and immediate—supply needs of soldiers at forward locations, Air Force Lt. Gen. William Fraser and Army Lt. Gen. Peter Chiarelli acknowledged that the two services must get the details down in writing. Chiarelli explained: "We can't just talk direct support, because direct support is absolutely key and critical for us. … We are down now into the weeds of, you know, when the Army defines direct support for this particular aircraft, what exactly does that mean." Fraser declared: "We are committed to this mission of direct support for the Army." He said an Air Force team is working with the Army program office on the procurement program shift, while the Air Force is also working with Army, Army National Guard, and Air National Guard to sort out the fielding process. Fraser said he and Chiarelli also have held "several meetings" with Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley, National Guard Bureau chief. Chiarelli said, "The Air Force is fully signed up for direct support," and he added, "We are ensuring that we go into that with our eyes open on exactly what that means to both of us."
And, the Number Is?: Lawmakers continue to press Air Force and Army officials over the Pentagon 2010 budget proposal to reduce the number of C-27 Spartan Joint Cargo Aircraft from 78 to just 38. At a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing last week, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley emphasized that the final number has yet to be decided. He referred to early studies, including ones by the Army and RAND, that said the "78 aircraft package, which was split between the Army and the Air Force, originally at 54 and 24 respectively, is a valid need." Noting that the 38 C-27s included in the 2010 are intended to replace the Army's 42 elderly C-23 Sherpas, Donley declared, "I see 38 C-27s as the floor, not the ceiling." At the same hearing, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz said that the Air Force plans to pursue over the summer "the break point between the C-27 capability and the C-130 capability." Defense Secretary Robert Gates has said that there is excess capacity within the C-130 tactical airlifter fleet, but Donley said he is open to a discussion on the number of C-27s ultimately purchased.
Who Will Fly the JCA?: According to Air Force Gen. Norton Schwartz the answer to that question is "not fully cooked, but it will be by the end of the month," testifying at the May 21 Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the 2010 Air Force budget proposal. However, that report is not necessarily for public consumption, for as Air Force Secretary Michael Donley pointed out that report is due to Deputy Defense Secretary William Lynn. Donley said, too, "I do not think this report will be the last report; I think this is an interim description of how far the conversations have gone, what issues we've identified, and the path we have outlined forward … related to the future bed downs, related to the program management transfer of responsibility." When pressed as to whether the Army National Guard would still fly the new C-27s, Schwartz replied, "How this is going to lay in and who's going to do it is not yet a done deal
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