Alenia Aeronautica has delivered the last C-27J to the Lithuanian Air Force — Press Release

October 22, 2009 by Matthew Potter · Comment
Filed under: Acquisitions, Business Line, Companies, Events, Military Aviation, production program 

c27 lithAlenia Aeronautica has delivered the last C-27J to the Lithuanian Air Force

Alenia Aeronautica has delivered on the 21st of October 2009 to the Air Force of the Lithuanian Republic the last out of 3 C-27Js, as per the contract signed in June 2006, fully meeting time schedule. The first aircraft had been delivered to the Lithuanian Air Force in December 2006 and the second one in December 2008.

The ceremony took place at Siauliai Military Airport (Lithuania) at the presence of the Defence Ministry – Miss Rasa Jukneviciene – Commander of the Armed Forces – Maj Gen Arvydas Pocius – and Commander of the Lithuanian Air Force – Brig Gen Arturas Leita, and of Alenia Aeronautica’s top management.

The Lithuanian Defence Ministry has expressed his full satisfaction for this successful programme for the Country’s Armed Forces.

Giovanni Bertolone, CEO of Alenia Aeronautica, commented, “After one month from the ceremony for the delivery of the first refurbished G.222 for the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and assigned to the Afghan Air Force, today’s delivery, with the last C-27J to the Lithuanian Air Force, stands once again for the strong commitment by Alenia Aeronautica in fulfilling its contractual duties and in assuring its customers’ full satisfaction”.

The C-27J, developed by Alenia Aeronautica, is an aircraft capable of accomplishing many missions among which transport of troops, goods and medical stuff, paradrop operations, search and rescue (SAR), support to civil protection and maritime patrolling activities.

The C-27J represents the most advanced programme of last-generation tactical transport airplanes and will be used by the Lithuanian Air Force for the transport of troops and materials, also outside national borders, within the operations led by NATO agreements, whose organisation Lithuania has been member since 2004.

Photo by Alvydas Tamošiunas, Lithuanian Air Force Air Base.

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South Africa May Be The First A400M Casualty

October 16, 2009 by Matthew Potter · 1 Comment
Filed under: Airbus, Business Line, Companies, Contract Awards, Countries, EADS, Events, Lockheed Martin, Military Aviation, Restructuring, South Africa, development program, production program 

The A400M is one of EADS most ambitious military programs. The new tactical transport would be developed and built in Europe for several different nations and provide a possible counterweight to the C-130 for overseas sales. The aircraft has faced development struggles that has led to a two year delay in the delivery of the test vehicles and caused the customers to rethink whether to continue. This would have been harsh for EADS as they would have to pay penalties to the countries that invested in them.

In July it was decided to renegotiate the contract to allow EADS time to restructure it and meet its obligations. The A400M has also attracted some foriegn customers and now South Africa is considering canceling their order for eight aircraft due to a price increase of over 150 percent. If the contract was not canceled by the end of the month the nation must continue on with the program and pay the new price. This would be about $6.4 billion compared to the original estimate of $2.6 billion in current exchange rates.

Defense acquisition programs that run late or over budget are nothing new. Normally when an overseas sale occurs of this kind of system it is after it has been in production for a few years and the price stablized. In this case South Africa gambled that the A400M would be completed on time and cost without any serious issues. This has turned out not to be true and they are facing a price increase of starting over. The aircraft are considered key to their peace keeping capability.

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