A joint venture between L-3 Communications subsidiary Integrated Systems and Alenia North American is offering the C-27J Spartan medium tactical airlifter to the Air Force as a potential combat rescue tanker. The Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Fla., and Aeronautical Systems Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, just launched a market research effort for the CRT last month. The CRT would augment or replace the current fleet of special operations HC-130 and MC-130 refuelers. Among requirements for a CRT aircraft is the ability to refuel AFSOC’s new CV-22 tilt-rotor and CSAR-X aircraft. The C-27J is also competing for the Army’s Future Cargo Aircraft program.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth visited the site of U.S. Space Command’s future home Dec. 12 and endorsed the move to establish the headquarters in Alabama after years of political back and forth.
