# C-27J Spartan achieves 250,000 operational flight hours

- Link: https://www.military.africa/2024/01/c-27j-spartan-achieves-250000-operational-flight-hours/
- Published: 2024-01-02T08:50:20+01:00
- Author: Military Africa

The military transport aircraft has been chosen by operators in 16 countries across
all continents Significant operational achievements through a wide range of defence
and civil protection missions in the most challenging environments and operating
conditions, where other aircraft can’t be deployed.

A wide spectrum of aircraft configurations, including fire-fighting, Maritime Patrol(
MP),
C3ISR, and special operations.

Leonardo celebrates a major operational milestone achieved by
the C-27J Spartan 
global fleet, which has now logged 250,000 flight hours. Chosen by militaryoperators
in 16 countries worldwide, the C-27J has been deployed since its entry into service
into the most challenging terrains, environmental and operating contexts, from the
Andes to Afghanistan.

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Dario Marfè, Senior Vice President of Commercial, CSS&T & Proprietary Programmes
Business of Leonardo’s Aircraft Division, said: ‘The Spartan embodies the very essence
of the national security concept, proving to be the ideal solution for defence force
operations and making a vital contribution to population support and civil protection
tasks. In a world impacted by many emergencies, like the Covid-19 pandemic, the 
Spartan has sustained support to
communities in need.”

The aircraft’s capabilities, which have been extensively demonstrated in many challenging

operations, with its modular design have grown over the years to meet evolving requirementsin
the market, both in terms of technical characteristics and military/civil missions,
leading tothe latest standard, designated the C-27J Spartan Next Generation.

This configuration features
state-of-the-art avionics and winglets for greater efficiency
and enhanced operational performance. Core avionics include a glass cockpit with
five multi-functional colour screens, aradar system for tactical transport missions
and advanced communication systems. Thesystem architecture ensures interoperability
with other transport aircraft. The addition ofwinglets further enhances the overall
aerodynamics performance, by increasing the lift-dragratio with benefits, including
even better hot and high runway performance, increased payload,range, endurance 
and the overall deriving reduction in operating costs. The winglet designincludes
parts produced with modern 3D Additive Manufacturing technology.

The inherent growth potential and versatility of the C-27J leverages a solid basic
design, a wide-ranging in-service experience as well as an established strong industrial
know-how and expertise backing the type’s ability to meet evolving market needs.
The C-27J can be provided with in-flight refuelling, self-protection, secure communications
and ballistic protection systems to operate in high-threat environments. With multiple
roll-on/roll-off mission kits easily installed and transportable roll-on/roll-off
mission systems, the C-27J can be quickly reconfigured into the configuration required
for the current mission. A wide spectrum of mission configuration/versions also 
include fire-fighting, Maritime Patrol (MP), Command-Control-Communications, Intelligence,
Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C3ISR) and special
operations versions.

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