Summary

  • Operator countries: 17, uses engines from C-130J Super Hercules
  • 60 troop capacity, ideal for humanitarian missions in remote areas
  • Can serve in ISR, firefighting, maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare, and ground attack roles

The Alenia C-27J Spartan is a tactical Italian military transport aircraft smaller than the C-130J Super Hercules and used worldwide (as far as Australia). While the aircraft is primarily used as a tactical military transport aircraft, it has found a number of other missions, including ISR, maritime patrol, firefighting, and fire support/ground attack. The C-27J Spartan is even one of the top aircraft operated by the US Coast Guard. It has been built with multiple roll-on/roll-off mission kits easily installed and transportable roll-on/roll-off mission systems.

1

Tactical airlift

The Spartan has a max payload of almost 25,000 lbs

Max payload:

24,912 lbs

Max take-off weight:

71,650 lbs

Cargo compartment:

10 feet 11 inches by 8 feet 6 inches

The C-27J Spartan was developed as a military transport from the earlier G.222/C-27 Spartan. It uses the engines and some other systems of its C-130J Super Hercules counterpart and has been purchased by operators in 17 countries around the world. C-27J Spartans can operate from unsurfaced airstrips and support humanitarian missions in remote locations.

Australian Air Force C-27J Spartan

Photo: Royal Australian Air Force

The C-27J Spartan has a troop transport capacity of 60 troops or 46 paratroopers. According to Redstar, on a typical mission, it can carry a load of 2 HMMWV vehicles and 3 105-mm howitzer cannons. Spartans can bridge the gap between army helicopters and larger air force aircraft.

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2

Medium Range Surveillance Aircraft

14 C-27Js are being upgraded with ISR capabilities for the Coast Guard

Coast Guard:

14 C-27J Spartans

Coast Guard role:

Search and rescue, disaster response, maritime patrol, and drug and migrant interdiction

Range:

2,675 nautical miles

The US Coast Guard is using 14 C-27J as medium-range surveillance aircraft (complementing its fleet of HC-144 Ocean Sentries). Coast Guard services are used to perform drug and migrant interdiction as well as disaster response and search and rescue missions. These aircraft were formerly in US Air Force service but were quickly retired after budget cuts. The Coast Guard operates a fleet of around 200 aircraft, making it comparable to some of the world’s small air forces.

US Coast Guard Patrol the San Francisco

Photo: Photo_Time l Shutterstock

Following the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014, the retired C-27Js were pulled from storage at the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and transferred to the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard is working to expand the C-27J’s capabilities to meet the news of the service.

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3

Fire Fighter

14 C-27J Spartans were almost transferred to the US Forest Service

The C-27J Spartan has been seen as a great firefighter platform. The manufacturer, Leonardo, states, “The firefighter configuration with roll-on/roll-off second-generation Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS II) by United Aeronautical Corporation, the world leader in advanced aerial application systems, enhances the C-27J’s multi-mission capabilities.” It also states, “Leonardo’s C-27J Next Generation Fire Fighter represents the state-of-the-art in airborne firefighting capabilities.”

C-27J Spartan in fire fighter configuration

Photo: Leonardo

In 2012, there was a movement for the US Forest Service to receive around 14 surplus C-27J Spartans and convert them into firefighters. However, these would appear to be the same Spartans that were later allocated to the US Coast Guard. Multiple aircraft have firefighting capabilities – including the Airbus A400M (Western Europe’s largest military transport aircraft).

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4

Anti-submarine warfare (ASW)

At least 117 C-27Js have been produced

Operators:

Unclear how many air forces use it in an anti-submarine role

Weapons:

Unclear

Other anti-sub aircraft:

P-8 Poseidon, SH-60 Seahawk, P-3 Orion, Tu-142

C-27J Spartans can also be used for anti-submarine warfare. As with other missions, the aircraft is versatile and can be rapidly reconfigured for the anti-submarine warfare role. A number of fixed-wing aircraft can perform anti-submarine warfare, including the Tu-142 and the P-3 Orion (Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk is one type of anti-submarine helicopter).

Alenia C-27J Spartan of the Italian Air Force

The US-produced P-3 Orion is aging and has largely been replaced by the new Boeing P-8 Poseidon (derived from the civilian Boeing 737-800 airliner). Advanced drones like the Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton can also work alongside manned fixed-wing anti-submarine aircraft.

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5

Ground attack

The US Air Force wanted to convert dozens of C-27J into ground attack

Primary Ground Attack:

Currently AC-130J & A-10 Warthog

Service:

US Air Force Special Forces Command

Guns:

30mm, 40mm, or precision-guided munitions

The C-27J Spartan can also be used in a ground attack and fire support role. The US Air Force planned to acquire C-27Js for use as gunships to replace aging AC-130 gunships (and for other missions), and they were to be designated the AC-27J Stinger II. However, the project was eventually canceled, and the money was redirected towards modernizing and standardizing the AC-130 fleet.

Alenia C-27J on the ground taking off

Photo: Leonardo

If the AC-27J had come into service, it would have been armed with a 30-mm or 40-mm gun or precision-guided munitions (like the Viper Strike bomb). With the looming retirement of the A-10 Warthogs, the US Air Force mostly relies on the AC-130J ‘Ghostrider’ to serve the close air-support attack role. The AC-130J Ghostrider reigns as the ‘biggest gun in the west.’

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