Multi-mission Airlifter Will Prove Versatility
With 82 aircraft already under contract with 14 operators on five continents, Leonardo-Finmeccanica’s C-27J SPARTAN multi-role airlifter embarked on a tour on 14 November to further demonstrate its capabilities and versatility. The aircraft will fly from Italy to Panama then travel the length of Latin America, calling at La Paz, Buenos Aires and finally the Argentine Antarctic Air Base at Marambio.

The tour will expose the aircraft to the continent’s diverse, often extreme weather conditions and terrain: it will demonstrate its ability to cope with high mountain operations, unpaved airstrips and hot and deep cold environments – all requirements that regional operators will demand. Some of these have already been proven in operations with the Mexican and Peruvian Air Forces, the US Coast Guard and US Army Special Operations Command.

“Latin America is a very significant environment for our C-27J, for both military and humanitarian support roles.  We believe that the SPARTAN aircraft, in both cargo and special version configurations, is an excellent solution for several armed forces in the region, as a result of its versatility and operational capabilities, which complies well with the demanding geography and long distances of the Latin America region. The C-27J has lower operating costs and higher cargo productivity than similar aircraft,” said Umberto Rossi, Leonardo-Finmeccanica Aircraft Division Head of Marketing and Sales.