Australia’s defense ministry announced a $1.4 billion deal on May 10 to purchase 10 C-27J Spartan airlifters through a foreign military sales agreement with the United States. “Acquisition of the C-27J will significantly improve the Australian Defense Force’s ability to move troops, equipment, and supplies,” states the ministry’s release. “The C-27J has the capacity to carry significant load and still access small, soft, narrow runways that are too short for the C-130J” while complimenting Australia’s existing C-130 and C-17 fleets, it continues. The Spartan “best met all the essential capability requirements and provides the best value for money,” beating out Airbus Military’s competing C-295 transport, states the release. Australia is seeking a separate support deal with manufacturer Alenia. The C-27J will replace the DHC-4 Caribou airlifter fleet retired in 2009. The Australians are scheduled to receive their Spartan fleet in 2015; the aircraft will bed down at RAAF Richmond near Sydney, according to the release.
The Collaborative Combat Aircraft will be operational in the late 2020s, several years before the Next-Generation Air Dominance family of systems, Air Force officials told the House Armed Services tactical aviation panel. The CCAs will first be “shooters,” then electronic warfare platforms, then sensors, in that order, they added.