CG to get C-27J

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uscg-c-27j-impression
Alenia Aermacchi impression of a C-27J Spartan in U.S. Coast Guard livery. (Photo: Alenia Aermacchi)

I did note this in a comment on the previous post about this, but its probably too important to not to have its own post. Apparently we have confirmation that the Coast Guard will be getting the Air Force’s excess C-27Js.

Question is, if we were going to buy 36 HC-144s and we have bought 18, doesn’t getting 14 C–27s still leave us 4 planes short? and if we are giving some older C-130s to the Forrest Service perhaps a few more?

Does it mean the Coast Guard will be getting more C-130Js?

55 thoughts on “CG to get C-27J”

  3. Unfortunately, it seems like were gonna be 4 planes short of our proposed acquisition. Vice Admiral Currier made it clear that no allocations had been placed for the other 18 HC-144’s, quoting that they made a “strategic pause”. Not entirely sure how the C-27s stack up to the hc-144s, but Im hoping they’re gonna be as competent if not more so than the hc-144s. Im constantly saying this, but Washington needs to put in Thad Allen for DHS Secretary.

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  4. The C-27J shares a lot more with the C-130J than the C-144A does. That and the C-27 was introduced 10 years prior to the C-144, makes me think EADS just copied the Spartan.

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  5. Reblogged this on Brittius.com and commented:
    Very nice! The C-27J is a lovely aircraft and why not have the USCG put something outstanding into use. I lived on the water many years, and never fully appreciated the USCG until I saw them earning their keep. The C-27J will be a very nice addition to the role of the USCG, and a perfect use of the C-27J aircraft rather than the boneyard.

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  8. USCG will get a nice plane with a big commonality with C-130J that can fly faster, higher , reach larger distance and most important safer than HC-144 (just have a look to system redundancies). USCG will benefit of the common requirement for sensors installations (eo/ir and search radar ) between C-27J MP and MC-27J medium gunship which is already in development! This is a very good Christmas present for USCG that I believe didn’t select C-27J since beginning just for the higher acquisition costs.

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  9. Apparently the Coast Guard is claiming they are happy with the C-27Js and that they will replace some of the C-130Hs. http://news.usni.org/2014/01/16/sna-14-coast-guard-bullish-new-c-27j. I can see this, but counting airplanes planned vs actual, it still sounds like we will be down on numbers unless we get some more. We were supposed to get 36 HC-144s and none of them replaced C-130s as far as I understood. Instead we have or will get 18 HC-144s, 14 C-27Js, and we are loosing seven C-130Hs. I know we will be getting some C-130Js, but if say 7 of the C-27Js replace C-130s that means only seven of the remaining 18 HC-144s are being replaced and somewhere down the line we will need an additional 11 aircraft. Does the Coast Guard intend to take over the existing contract for additional C-27Js?

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    • I think they have the possibility of furher orders for both HC-130J or C-27J MP (or HC-27J???), they have some time to decide the mix in particular following operational assessment, considering that they are receiving 14 A/C quickly.

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  12. More info on progress on the Italian gunship version of the C-27J. The company that is running the conversion is a US headquartered company, ATK, that spun off from Honeywell in 1990.
    http://atk.mediaroom.com/2014-07-16-ATK-and-Alenia-Aermacchi-Successfully-Complete-Testing-on-Italian-Air-Force-C-27J-with-Roll-On-Roll-Off-Palletized-Gun-Systems
    Seriously while the sensors appear appropriate, for reasons we have discussed previously (limited stopping power and risk of collateral damage) I don’t see us having a need for a gun on our fixed wing aircraft even in war time, but at some point we might want the ability to deploy something along the lines of the guided weapons we talked about here: https://chuckhillscgblog.net/2014/07/18/guided-weapons-getting-closer/
    I’m sure ATK and others would be more than happy to help us with that.

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    • Various PGMs planned for MC-27J including Griffin,GBU-44 and new ATK ones.
      2 Wing Pylons are also considered these will allow to carry very serious weapons

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      • Why this may or may not be a good idea deserves a more thought than I can put in a comment. I have begun shaping a post of the possibility of arming our fixed wing air and helicopters with something more than the existing use of force packages. I would welcome comments here.

      • Much like it became obvious to all military branches with UAVs that it made sense to arm ISR air assets, the CG will eventually do so. It fits better to arm aircraft with PGMs than cutters in the short term, because their response speed is faster. If they plan it right, they could even get one system for both platforms and get a little economy of scale going on. (Even greater if the Hellfire is chosen.)

  15. Looks like there is some basis for international cooperation in support of the C-27J. This from Defense Industry Daily:
    “December 2014: C-27Js. The EDA recently gathered representatives from the 5 EU users of C-27J Spartan transport aircraft: Bulgaria, Italy, Greece, Lithuania, and Romania. The initiative was launched in May, and while not strictly part of EATC, it is meant to complement that broader effort, as well as the Spartan User Group external link where non-European countries are also found. Participants will meet again early next year to further discuss ideas such as pooling simulators or share parts.” http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/european-air-transport-command-agreement-signed-03326/?utm_medium=textlink&utm_term=continuereading

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    • 3 planes delivered the fourth is planned within Fall, USCG is working for missionizing the plane with EO/IR , search radar, Comms ad palletized Minotaur Mission System training the crews in the meantime

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    • I asked about this and I got a kind reply from Steve Vanderplas,
      Contract Team Lead, Acquisition Communication Support Team.

      “The distinction is between how many C-27J aircraft are being acquired and how many are undergoing regeneration.

      “13 C-27J aircraft are being regenerated from a preserved status at
      Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. A 14th aircraft will be
      transferred to the Coast Guard once it is formally accepted by the Air
      Force.”

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  29. Acquisition Update: Coast Guard Completes C-27J Missionization System Requirements Review
    https://chuckhillscgblog.net/2013/12/12/cg-to-get-c-27j/#comments
    “The missionization package will include 19 subcomponents to augment the C-27J’s baseline capabilities. The missionized C-27Js will feature capabilities similar to the HC-130J Super Hercules long range surveillance aircraft with equipment including multimode radar, forward-looking infrared cameras, electro-optical/infrared sensors and Automatic Identification System transceivers.”

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  34. First C-27J goes through depot level maintenance.

    “Once all 14 C-27Js are operational, two are scheduled to be in PDM at any given time, allowing Air Stations Sacramento, California, and Clearwater, Florida, to keep six Spartans each in rotation for mission execution. Each of the 14 aircraft in the service’s Spartan fleet is planned to undergo its first depot maintenance by 2021.”

    https://www.uscg.mil/acquisition/newsroom/updates/mrs120216.asp

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  35. CG-9 reports, “The Coast Guard HC-27J Asset Project Office in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, received the service’s 10th regenerated C-27J Spartan medium range surveillance aircraft Dec. 11, 2016. Regeneration is the process of inspecting, verifying and repairing the aircraft for flight clearance and is completed by the 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group on Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona. The Coast Guard will regenerate 13 aircraft under this program. The 14th C-27J in the acquisition program of record will come directly from the contractor and is scheduled for delivery later this month.”
    https://www.uscg.mil/acquisition/newsroom/updates/c27j_PhotoUpdate121516.asp

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