Alenia & Czech Aero to Cooperate on C-27J
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Finmeccanica subsidiary Alenia Aeronautica will transfer some production activities for the C-27J Spartan light tactical transport aircraft to the Czech company Aero Vodochody under a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA). The final contract is scheduled to be signed by the end of May 2006, and is based on a business plan that anticipates the supply of 350 center wing boxes (where the wings attach to the body) with an estimated value of more than $200 million. Aero Vodochody’s participation will include responsibility for the equipment installed and final tests, promotion in export markets, production, production process improvement and possible modifications as required by customers around the world, and a possible role as a single-source manufacturer of the structure.
The Italian Government supported these efforts, and it should be noted that the C-27J is currently under evaluation by the Czech Air Force. The twin-engine Spartan or “Baby Herc” has extensive commonality with C-130J Hercules avionics, engines, and structures, and 32 have been ordered by the Air Forces of Italy, Greece and Bulgaria. the aircraft is also is currently under evaluation by the United States for the JCA (Joint Cargo Aircraft) program, in Canada’s Search & Rescue fleet; and by customers in Slovakia, Lithuania, Romania and Australia. See corporate release.
