Vanguard Magazine

www.vanguardcanada.com AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015 33 SPECIAL REPORT TEAM C-27J SPARTAN FOR FWSAR A lenia Aermacchi, in partnership with General Dynamics Missions Systems Canada, DRS Technolo- gies Canada Ltd and KF Aero- space, is oering the C-27J aircraft for Canada's Fixed-Wing Search-and-Rescue (FWSAR) Aircraft Replacement Program. C-27J Aircraft The C-27J Spartan is the only true me- dium tactical turboprop military aircraft available on the market today. Its robust construction, high power and system re- dundancy provides a high-level of safety and an unbeatable mission accomplish- ment rate. In addition, the C-27J brings together many of the capabilities that SAR crews are looking for. It is faster than other aircraft in its class and has exceptional handling, especially at search speeds. It also has great cockpit visibility, more than ample cabin size and outstanding maneu- verability and STOL capabilities. The C-27J also has a high degree of com- monality, interoperability and supportabil- ity with existing Canadian C-130 fleet and will provide short-term program acquisi- tion benefits as well as long-term in-service support benefits by reducing operating, training and maintenance costs, making it a low-risk, cost-eective solution for Canada. The Spartan Advantage Alenia Aermacchi's C-27J platform will be missionized in Atlantic Canada under Gen- eral Dynamics Mission Systems Canada. DRS Technologies Canada Ltd., will de- liver the training and simulation solution, including long-term training for the fleet. Montreal's TRU Simulation and Training will be responsible for the design and de- velopment of key FWSAR training support system elements and ATCO Structures & Logistics, based out of Calgary, AB will be responsible for the design, build and main- tenance of the new FWSAR training cen- tre. KF Aerospace will provide the long- term maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO). IMP will modify the green aircraft for the FWSAR role in Canada, and Mon- treal's CMC Electronics will provide the Flight Management System. Combined, the C-27J team will support long-term, high-tech jobs, across the country as well as investments in infrastructure and tech- nology, making it an outstanding econom- ic stimulus for Canada's aerospace sector. Team Spartan remains dedicated to oer- ing Canadians a best-value, low-risk, cost-ef- fective solution that can meet the country's current FWSAR service requirements from the existing SAR operating bases. Constant Improvement Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi has suc- cessfully completed flight-testing follow- ing the addition of winglets to the C-27J battlefield airlifter configuration, repre- senting one of a series of product devel- opments currently underway. The winglets, which are extensions to the wingtips of the aircraft, improve the already exceptional flight performance of the C-27J by increasing the lift-drag ratio. In-service benefits of the modification in- clude, improved hot and high runway per- formance, increased payload, and range and endurance, which results in an overall reduction in operating costs. The first flight of the "wingletted" air- craft took place with complete success at Finmeccanica-Alenia Aermacchi's Turin- Caselle facility in Italy on June 15. The flight testing allowed Alenia to collect all the necessary data to verify the design objec- tives and provide the basis for a substanti- ated decision to incorporate winglets into the overall C-27J design, including the SAR configuration being oered to Canada for the FWSAR Aircraft Replacement Program. Proven Aircraft with Satisfied Customers First RAAF C-27J Spartan Arrives in Aus- tralia - Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Geo Brown, AO, welcomed the first of ten RAAF C-27J Spartan battlefield airlift aircraft to Australia at a ceremony at RAAF Base Rich- mond on 30 June 2015. "The Spartan will give the Royal Austra- lian Air Force the best possible tactical air mobility capability," said Air Marshal Brown. "But it will also become the real workhorse in humanitarian disaster and relief opera- tions." Initial Operational Capability for Aus- trailia's C-27J fleet is planned for late 2016, with Final Operational Capability expected within the following two years. Peruvian Air Force receives second C-27J Spartan aircraft - The second of four C-27J Spartan aircraft was formally delivered to the Peruvian Air Force last month in a cer- emony witnessed by Prime Minister Pedro Cateriano and Defense Minister Jakke Val- akivi. According to the Cabinet's chief, the ad- dition of these new, state-of-the-art aircraft begins the country's modernization eorts for the Armed Forces, and results not only in the improvement of the Air Force's logis- tical capacity, but in the service it is able to provide to Peruvians. The Minister also said the purchase opens the door to cooperation opportunities with Italy for the installation of maintenance workshops for the aircrafts servicing Peru and other Latin American countries. The Defense Minister informed those in attendance that the third and fourth C-27J Spartan aircraft would be delivered in early and late 2016, respectively. For more information, visit the Team Spartan website: www.c27j.ca

• Cover