Slovakia to replace ageing Antonov transports with C-27J Spartans

Gestart door dudge, 30/10/2014 | 16:37 uur

dudge

Slovakia to replace ageing Antonov transports with C-27J Spartans
Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
26 October 2014

Slovakia is expected to receive its first C-27J in 2016, with the second following in 2017.

Slovakia has agreed to purchase a pair of Alenia Aermacchi C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft, national media reported on 23 October.

The two aircraft, which are being procured to replace the Slovak Air Force's ageing Antonov An-26 'Cline' transports, are expected to arrive in 2016 and 2017, according to the Slovak Spectator newspaper. Alenia told IHS Jane's that it hopes to be able to announce the sale in the coming days.

While a contract value has not been disclosed, IHS Jane's World Air Forces puts the deal at an estimated EUR120 million (USD152 million).
ANALYSIS

The disclosure that Slovakia is to procure the two C-27Js ends a protracted procurement process that has lasted since December 2008.

At that time, the country selected the Italian-built transport ahead of the Airbus Defence and Space (DS) C295 and the Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules to replace its two An-26s, which were supposed to have been retired at the end of 2010.

However, severe budget constraints forced the Slovakian government to put the procurement on hold, until it was announced in July 2012 that negotiations with Alenia had resumed.

The move to replace the Soviet-era An-26s with the modern C-27Js is part of a wider effort by the Slovak Air Force to upgrade its capabilities, the main purpose of which is to field an effective but affordable air arm using NATO standards and procedures.

http://www.janes.com/article/45015/slovakia-to-replace-ageing-antonov-transports-with-c-27j-spartans