Early User Survey Will Last Two Weeks

The C-27J team -- composed of L-3 Communications Integrated Systems Group, a subsidiary of L-3 Communications, Alenia North America, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, and Global Military Aircraft Systems (GMAS) -- told ANN Wednesday the C-27J has begun the Early User Survey (EUS) portion in the competition for the Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) program.

During the EUS, the C-27J team will demonstrate the aircraft meets all JCA requirements including the efficient transloading of pallets and other cargo, the loading and unloading of a full-up armored HMMWV, and the ability to convert the aircraft into a MEDEVAC configuration for transporting of wounded. This aircraft will also demonstrate its ability to airdrop cargo and personnel, land and takeoff from short unpaved airfields, and operate autonomously from austere locations. The plane will be evaluated by members of the US Army and US Air Force. The survey will be performed at three locations: Pope Air Force Base, SC, and Maxwell Air Force Base and Ft. Rucker in Alabama.

The C-27J is a true military airlift system with exceptional short takeoff and landing (STOL) performance, unequalled ruggedness, survivability, reliability, and self-deployable features. It is the only military off-the-shelf solution designed to meet the Joint Force commander’s need to deliver equipment and troops where they are needed when they are needed.

The C-27J Spartan is the latest in a successful tradition of military airlifters including the C-27A Spartan and the G-222, which have been deployed by the United States, NATO, Coalition Forces, the United Nations, and Italy in support of military and humanitarian operations in Albania, Armenia, Bosnia, Cambodia, Congo, Operations Desert Shield and Storm, East Timor, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Honduras, Kosovo, Libya, Mali, Panama, Rwanda, Somalia, Uganda and Yemen.

C-27A Spartans are currently carrying out vital counter-drug activities for the United States in Central and South America. The C-27J has proven capable of performing logistical re-supply, MEDEVAC, troop movement, airdrop operations, humanitarian assistance and missions of support of Homeland Security.

The EUS is scheduled to last approximately two weeks.

In addition to L-3, Alenia and Boeing, the C-27J team includes Rolls Royce and Honeywell who provide significant commonality with the United States military aviation assets through the supply of the latest propulsion systems and state of the art avionics.

FMI: www.c27j.com