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.