C-27Js for Australia

The Pentagon yesterday announced a potential C-27J aircraft sale to Australia worth nearly $1 billion, a package that would include 10 fixed-wing cargo planes plus logistics support.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency on Dec. 16 notified lawmakers of the potential foreign military sale for the aircraft and associated equipment, to include Rolls Royce engines, electronic warfare self-protection suites, radar, radios and mission planning systems, according to a Dec. 19 statement.

“The proposed sale will allow the Australian Defense Force (ADF) to improve its capability to meet current and future air mobility needs and humanitarian operations and disaster relief efforts in Southeast Asia,” the DSCA notice states. “The ADF retired its fleet of 14 DHC-4 Caribou aircraft in 2009 and will soon retire 12 C-130H aircraft. The proposed sale of C-27J’s will provide the capability needed to meet operational needs and emerging requirement. Australia will have no difficulty absorbing the C-27J and support into its armed forces.”

The U.S. Air Force plans to buy 38 C-27Js, which have been flown on missions in Afghanistan.

The prime contractor for the Australia deal, which DOD estimates will be worth as much as $950 million, would be L-3 Integrated Systems Group, Waco, TX. The aircraft is built by Alenia North America.