USAF and US Army C-27J Aircraft On the Way

[erj-145mech]

L-3 Communications Integrated Systems, L.P., of Greenville, Texas, was awarded a firm-fixed price contract June 13, 2007, estimated at $2.04 billion for procurement of up to 78 Joint Cargo Aircraft (C-27J Spartan). This includes pilot and loadmaster training, and contractor logistics support for the United States Army and Air Force. The contract consists of three 12-month ordering periods for Low-Rate Initial Production and two 12-month options for Full-Rate Production. Four bids were received under the full and open competition in response to the March 17, 2006, request for proposals. Work in the United States will be performed at Waco, Texas. Aircraft manufacture will occur in Italy. Work is to be completed by June 30, 2012. The U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., is the contracting activity (W58RGZ-07-0099).

 

[RedDogC130]

Now lets see which units get the aircraft for the AF...rumor has it some are going to the Guard and Reserve

 

[GoingHot]

http://www.c-27j.com/

 

[JungleJett]

Now lets see which units get the aircraft for the AF...rumor has it some are going to the Guard and Reserve

I have heard that Mansfield Ohio might get them.

 

[Jim]

Funny, back in 1997 when I was assigned to Southcom and we were moving out of Panama, the Air Force couldn't wait to dump the C-27s that were based at Howard (only C-27 unit in the USAF). Despite everyone else in theater wanting them, the Air Force insisted there was no place for the C-27 in their inventory. Entirely too little capbility, completely unnecessary and too costly they claimed.

 

[pkober]

Everyone from a BRAC'ed ANG/ARC unit thinks they are getting them. Hopefully it will save some BARC'ed units. The way the Air Force thinks, they will probably let these units close and open up some new unit somewhere requiring millions of dollars of construction.

These airplanes would be a perfect fit for any BRAC'ed Herc unit.

 

[frog_flyer]

Now lets see which units get the aircraft for the AF...rumor has it some are going to the Guard and Reserve

comon 186th ARW!

 

[RedDogC130]

Hopefully not mine....keep them away.

 

[LearLove]

the BRAC info I read on some govt site said CT ANG will get some.

 

[Deuce130]

Before every guard/reserve guy gets too excited, remember what the need is. We need them in Iraq and Afghanistan. I know that deployments are good for some bums out there, but not for all of them!

 

[RedDogC130]

Also remeber they will not be deployable for at least 1-2 years once they are on property. Until the whole unit spins up ans is proficient they wont be going anywhere. Just look at the J model units. Took awhile to get that bird to the sandbox.

 

[BAT31]

The worst thing that could happen to these planes is for the Air Force to get any of them.

Give them to the Army so they can be used at the discretion of the ground commander, who they will directly support.

Just as an earlier poster said, the AF wanted to get rid of this type of platform, now that funding is being cut they are scrambling to maintain what they can. Which ofcourse, will be funneled to the F-22 program and somewhere, at some point, an Army infrantry captain is going to be on the radio trying to get resupply in the middle of a firefight ........

Overly dramatic? Just think about it. Leave the glamorous fighters and bombers to the AF. Privatize the non-tactical airlift and AR functions, and give the tac-airlift to the army. The Air Force leadership will be happy because they can finally be an all fighter force. "Don't want any of those uncool tankers or -130s slowing us down!"

Leave the warfighting to the Army and Marines. Leave the cable TV and "Top Gun" antics to the Air Force leadership.

Sorry, in my time in the Air Force, I've just seen too many direct examples of wasted money. It has been a truly astonishing experience.

Discuss.

 

[angry tanker]

I am willing to bet they will go to a joint army / air force guard type entity.

 

[Birdstrike]

I'm wondering what ring the Army had to kiss to get the USAF's blessing on operating tactical fixed wing again (non intel) for the first time since they gave up the Caibou in the 70s. The likely price: allowing the USAF to be the sole executive agent for all unmanned aircraft, the latest skirmish where the Army has refused to give up its piece of the sky. This thing even looks like a Caribou. If the Army fields and operates it successfully, their nose is under the tent and they'll push for more of the tactical support mission - which makes sense and has for a long time. Only service politics (money) has prevented it. The Air Force must want the drone mission badly to give this up.

 

[bssthound]

comon 186th ARW!

That's my old unit. I've heard they'll be getting the 27J. One thing I learned when we were in the RF-4, though. Until the new acft taxies onto the ramp it's still a rumor.

 

[Deuce130]

I am willing to bet they will go to a joint army / air force guard type entity.

Yeah, with Army Warrant's and AF officers! It's gonna be really funny when the best C-27 pilots are 45 year old CWOs and they're teaching 25 year old Captains how to do it right. Which, of course, the Capt will, until he's a 33 year old major and has to leave the cockpit for the rest of his life.

 

[Oh-ryan]

Coasties are flying them already. Good lord it's an ugly airframe... and that's coming from a P-3 pilot!

 

[LearLove]

I'm wondering what ring the Army had to kiss to get the USAF's blessing on operating tactical fixed wing again (non intel) for the first time since they gave up the Caibou in the 70s. The likely price: allowing the USAF to be the sole executive agent for all unmanned aircraft, the latest skirmish where the Army has refused to give up its piece of the sky. This thing even looks like a Caribou. If the Army fields and operates it successfully, their nose is under the tent and they'll push for more of the tactical support mission - which makes sense and has for a long time. Only service politics (money) has prevented it. The Air Force must want the drone mission badly to give this up.

Ever think the AF will give up the A-10's to the Army?

 

[erj-145mech]

Coasties are flying them already. Good lord it's an ugly airframe... and that's coming from a P-3 pilot!

Nope, they are flying the 295, it was the runner up in the competition, looks similiar though.

 

[Deuce130]

Ever think the AF will give up the A-10's to the Army?

Not in a million years.