Ever so needed Airlift: in recessions, defence acquisition budgets are tight and transport aircraft are not normally high on wish lists. today, several major air forces have an overarching need to expand their air transport capacity.

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Ever so needed Airlift: in recessions, defence acquisition budgets are tight and transport aircraft are not normally high on wish lists. today, several major air forces have an overarching need to expand their air transport capacity.

Some manufacturers will benefit from these new logistic requirements. Others must develop markets in non-traditional areas and find new roles for their products.

Twin-Turboprops

Starting this review at the lighter end of the range, the market leader is the 31.8-tonne Alenia Aeronautica C-27J Spartan. In 2007 this was selected as the US Army/Air Force Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA), with L-3 Communications as prime contractor. The plan was then for a $ 2.04 billion first tranche of 78 aircraft (out of an eventual 145): 54 for the Army and 24 for the Air Force. The first JCA flew in Italy on 16 January 2008 and was handed over by L-3 to the US Army at Waco, Texas, eight months later.

As lead service the US Army ordered two C-27Js in FY07, four in FY08 and seven in FY09. However, in May 2009 control of the JCA programme was switched to the Air Force, which requested $ 319.1 million for eight aircraft in the FY10 budget. The planned C-27J total was simultaneously reduced to 38, all of which are to be operated by the Air Force. However, the final number required by the services remains to be determined.

It is not yet clear how the JCA cutback will affect A...

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