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The Alenia C-27J Spartan is a medium-sized military transport aircraft developed and manufactured by Alenia Aermacchi. It is an advanced derivative of Alenia Aeronautica's earlier G.222 (C-27A Spartan in U.S. service), equipped with the engines and various other systems also used on the larger Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules. In addition to the standard transport configuration, specialized variants of the C-27J have been developed for electronic warfare and ground-attack missions. In 2007, the C-27J was selected as the ''Joint Cargo Aircraft'' (JCA) for the United States military; these were produced in an international teaming arrangement under which L-3 Communications served as the prime contractor. In 2012, the United States Air Force (USAF) elected to retire the C-27J after only a short service life due to budget cuts; they were later reassigned to the U.S. Coast Guard and United States Special Operations Command. The C-27J has also been ordered by the military air units of Australia, Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Mexico, Morocco, Romania, Peru, and Slovakia. ==Design and development== In 1995, Alenia and Lockheed Martin began discussions to improve Alenia's G.222 using C-130J's glass cockpit and a more powerful version of the G.222's T64G engine and four-blade propellers. In 1996, a program began on an improved G.222, named C-27J; it used a U.S. military type designation based on the G.222's C-27A designation. In 1997, Alenia and Lockheed Martin formed Lockheed Martin Alenia Tactical Transport Systems (LMATTS) to develop the C-27J. The design changed to use the C-130J Super Hercules's Rolls-Royce AE 2100 engine and six-blade propeller.〔Frawley, Gerald. "LMATTS C-27J Spartan". ''The International Directory of Military Aircraft, 2002/2003''. Fishwyck, ACT: Aerospace Publications, 2002. ISBN 1-875671-55-2.〕 Other changes include a fully digital 1553 systems and avionics architecture, and an updated cargo compartment for increased commonality. The C-27J has a 35% increase in range and a 15% faster cruise speed than the G.222.〔 By 2005, the U.S. Army had identified the need to replace its aging Short C-23 Sherpa lifter. In lieu of adequate fixed-wing airlift availability, the CH-47 helicopter fleet was being worked hard on the "last tactical mile" to supply forward-placed troops; thus the U.S. Army sought the C-27J for its direct support capabilities, and to reduce demands on the CH-47 fleet.〔 In 2006, LMATTS was dissolved when Lockheed Martin offered the C-130J in 2006 as a contender in the same U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) competition in which the C-27J was competing.〔Fulghum, David and Andy Nativi. ("LM To Join JCA Competition With Four-Engine Offering." ) ''Aviation Week,'' 1 May 2006.〕 Alenia Aeronautica then paired with L-3 Communications, forming the Global Military Aircraft Systems (GMAS) joint venture to market the C-27J;〔("C-27J Team." ) "C-27J Spartan.'' Retrieved: 11 June 2011.〕 Boeing also joined GMAS.〔("Boeing Jumps on JCA Competition." ) '' Air Force magazine,'' 2 May 2006.〕 GMAS bid the C-27J in the JCA competition against Raytheon and EADS North America's C-295 to replace existing Short C-23 Sherpa, Beechcraft C-12 Huron and Fairchild C-26 Metroliners in the Army National Guard, and as a substitute tactical airlifter for Air National Guard groups or wings losing C-130s to retirement or Base Realignment and Closures.〔"C-27J successfully completes Army, Air Force early user survey", ''Aerotech News and Review'', 1 December 2006.〕〔Putrich, Gayle S. ("C-27J tapped for Joint Cargo Aircraft." ) ''Air Force Times,'' 13 June 2007.〕 By November 2006, the C-27J completed the U.S. Department of Defense's Early User Survey evaluations, having flown a total of 26 hours and surpassed all requirements. GMAS also announced that the C-27J will be assembled at a facility at Cecil Field, Duval County, Florida.〔("New Cargo Planes To Be Built in Cecil Field." ) ''firstcoastnews.com,'' 14 June 2007.〕 The JCA's final selection was expected in March 2007, however it was postponed until 13 June 2007, when the Pentagon announced the award of a US$2.04 billion contract for 78 C-27Js, including training and support, to GMAS.〔〔Gettle, Master Sgt. Mitch. ("C-27J Spartan named as Joint Cargo Aircraft." ) ''Air Force Public Affairs,'' 14 June 2007.〕 On 22 June 2007, Raytheon formally protested the JCA contract award for the C-27J.〔("Raytheon details dispute over $2B deal." ) ''Associated Press,'' 27 June 2007.〕 On 27 September 2007, the GAO announced that it had denied Raytheon's protest, thereby allowing the Pentagon to proceed with procurement;〔Tiron, Roxanna. "GAO denies protest over Joint Cargo Aircraft contract", TheHill.com, 27 September 2007.〕 at this time, the U.S. Army had requirement for up to 75 aircraft in the Army National Guard; the Air Force had a requirement for up to 70 aircraft in the Air Force Special Operations Command and the Air National Guard.〔 The first C-27J was to be scheduled to be delivered to the joint U.S. Army–Air Force test and training program in June 2008;〔Bryant, Jordan and Tom Kington. ("Joint Cargo Aircraft delivery starts in a year" ). ''Army Times'', 21 June 2007.〕 the first flight of a U.S. C-27J occurred on 17 June 2008.〔Trimble, Stephen. ("First C-27J for JCA contract makes first flight" ). Flightglobal.com, 17 June 2008.〕 , orders stand at Italy (12), Greece (12), Bulgaria (3), Lithuania (3), Morocco (4), Romania (7), Mexico (4), United States (38), Australia (10) and Peru (4).〔〔(December 2010 "Bulgaria Changes Its Order for up to 8 C-27J 'Baby Hercs'." ) ''defenseindustrydaily,'' 18 December 2010.〕〔("Alenia Aeronautica Signs Contract Worth 130 Million Euro to Supply Four C-27Js to Morocco." ) ''defenseworld.net.'' Retrieved: 8 April 2012.〕〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Alenia C-27J Spartan」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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