The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified the US Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia of 10 Alenia C-27J transport aircraft and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of US$950 million.
The December 19 notification says Australia has requested a possible sale of the aircraft as well as 23 Rolls-Royce AE2100D2 engines, electronic warfare equipment, radios, portable flight mission planning systems, support and test equipment, spares, aircraft ferry and tanker support, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical data, an operational flight simulator and fuselage and maintenance trainers, and other related elements of logistics and program support. Prime contractor for the project will be L-3 Integrated Systems based at Waco in Texas.
The aircraft would be acquired to fulfil the Air 8000 Phase 2 requirement for a Battlefield Airlifter (BFA) to replace the Caribou which was retired in 2009, and to fulfil the tactical transport role currently performed by the C-130H which is due to be retired by 2016. Current DCP timings show a 2014 service entry for the aircraft.
The DSCA notification follows requests for pricing and availability for both the C-27J and the competing Airbus Military C295 which were submitted in October.
