The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has reconfirmed the selection of the C-27J Spartan for the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) program. The services previously selected the C-27J, offered by L-3 Communications), Alenia North America, Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, and Global Military Aircraft Systems (GMAS), in an open competition.

"We are pleased that the GAO confirmed the selection of our C-27J offering - we have had confidence in our JCA offering and our team from the beginning. The C-27J is the right choice for the JCA mission," said Bob Drewes, President and Chief Operating Officer, L-3 Integrated Systems Group.

“Today’s announcement by the GAO reconfirms that our aircraft and our team represent the best value solution for the warfighter,” said Giuseppe Giordo, president and chief executive officer, Alenia North America. “This decision also validates a detailed and exhaustive competitive process during which the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force both recognized the unique capabilities of our C-27J aircraft, our team and our JCA offering as a whole.”

“We're very pleased to continue moving forward with our partners to produce this outstanding airlifter for our Air Force and Army customers,” said Dave Bowman, vice president and general manager of Boeing Global Mobility Systems.

The C-27J is a mid-range, multifunctional and interoperable aircraft able to perform logistical re-supply, MEDEVAC, troop movement, airdrop operations, humanitarian assistance and homeland security missions for the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force. The C-27J will replace the U.S. Army’s C-23 Sherpas, C-12 and C-26 aircraft and augment the U.S. Air Forces’ existing fleet of intratheater airlifters. The aircraft will play a key role in providing responsive aerial sustainment and critical re-supply support for the maneuver force to maintain operational momentum.

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 currently are carrying out vital counter-drug activities for the United States in Central and South America.

FMI: www.L-3Com.com, www.aleniana.com, www.boeing.com