Italy’s Alenia introduced a new version of the C-27J airlifter, the MC-27J gunship, at the 2012 Farnborough Air Show outside of London this week. “The MC-27J is not just a gunship, but a battlefield tested platform equipped with proven sensors, communications, and weapons suite able to execute a wide range of customer-driven missions,” states the company’s July 9 release. Alenia will jointly produce and market the MC-27J with ATK, which is providing the aircraft’s newly developed palletized roll-on/roll-off weapons system. Also, Boeing announced a partnership with Brazilian aircraft maker Embraer on July 10 to integrate new weapons on the latter’s A-29 Super Tucano light-attack platform. That same day, the Chicago-based aerospace giant also introduced a medium-sized maritime surveillance aircraft concept. The company said it expects to have more details on the concept by year’s end. Also, Lockheed Martin disclosed on July 9 that it signed an agreement authorizing Britain’s Marshall Aerospace to become the world’s first commercial company to install C-130 center wing boxes.
The U.K. and the U.S. will continue to enjoy access to the ports, airfield, and workshops at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean for at least another century, under a deal inked between the U.K. and Mauritius May 22.