Alenia's C-27J Staked to Lead Role In Negotiations, for Romanian Contract

After a competition that saw the Alenia Aeronautica's C-27J Spartan face off against EADS-CASA's C-295M, Romania's Ministry of Defence begun exclusive final negotiations with Alenia for 7 light tactical transports, plus support et. al. The planes will also be equipped with a complete (but as-yet unspecified) self-protection system to allow them to carry out missions in high-threat areas. The Romanian contract is expected to be signed by the end of 2006, and is expected to be worth around EUR 200-220 million (about $265-295 million).

In addition to early orders from Italy (12 aircraft) and Greece (12), the C-27J has recently been ordered by Bulgaria (8) and Lithuania (3). It is currently being evaluated by Canada, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, and the USA where the "Baby Herc" and its C-295M competitor successfully completed the JCA trial phase [PDF format] for the $6 billion, 145 plane Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) program. The final decision on the JCA contract is expected by March 2007, and Alenia is joined in its bid by L-3 and Boeing [PDF format].

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2006/1...tract/index.php

I think it was pretty clear from the beginning what was the most competent plane between these two. But the problem with C-27 remains the same as with C-130. We need a smaller plane because it was too expensive to exploit the 4 Hercs on short/medium ranges (of which it seems that we can keep only 2 operational anyway). Do we afford to exploit the 7 C-27? The difference in aquisition costs between the two planes is not the issue here.

The planes will replace the An-24/26 military fleet.