By Adalat Verdiyev

Ilham Aliyev, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan, has always prioritized the security of our nation. On the 106th anniversary of the establishment of our Armed Forces, President Aliyev was presented with the new "C-27J Spartan" aircraft, marking a significant milestone. This modern addition to our air fleet underscores our commitment to achieving victory and enhancing our military capabilities.

A Timely Acquisition

The contract for the supply of C-27J aircraft to the Air Force of Azerbaijan was signed for one year. This modern aircraft, produced jointly by Italy and the United States, belongs to the class of tactical military transport. It was developed by the LMATTS (Lockheed Martin Alenia Tactical Transport Systems) consortium on the basis of the "Alenia" G.222 aircraft. The manufacturer is the Italian company "Leonardo," well known to us from the traditional ADEX exhibitions held in Baku. The Rolls-Royce AE-2100 engine of Great Britain powers these planes.

Multifaceted Capabilities

The "C-27J" aircraft is designed to perform both defence and civil defence tasks in complex geographical and operational conditions. These aircraft are intended for the rapid transportation of personnel, special-purpose units, wounded, military cargo, artillery, and armored and non-armored vehicles.

First performance and order portfolio

The C-27J took its first flight in 1999, and by the end of 2008, the order portfolio for these machines exceeded 100 units. The Pentagon ordered 78 C-27Js to replace the light C-23 Sherpa military aircraft and to reduce the load on C-130 Hercules aircraft and CH-47 Chinook helicopters. By 2020, the aircraft's order portfolio consisted of 87 units.

Advantages of the C-27J Spartan

The C-27J stands out due to its high maneuverability, stability, and ability to take off and land from short, unprepared runways. It is equipped with modern navigation, radio-electronic, communication, and communication systems. These features make the C-27J Spartan a reliable and versatile vehicle for both military and humanitarian missions.

Technical Specifications

Crew: 2 people
Passenger capacity: 60 people
Load capacity: 11,300 kg
Length: 22.7 m
Wingspan: 28.7 m
Wing area: 82 m²
Height: 9.64 m
Cargo area: 3.33 x 2.60 m (width and height)
Empty weight: 17,500 kg
Maximum take-off weight: 32,500 kg

Flight Characteristics

Cruise speed: 583 km/h
Maximum speed: 602 km/h
Minimum speed: 194 km/h
Flight range: 1,852 km
Practical flight altitude: 9,144 m
Climbing speed: 13 m/sec

Global Presence

In addition to Azerbaijan, the C-27J is used by the air forces of the USA, Australia, Bulgaria, Greece, Zambia, Italy, Lithuania, Morocco, Mexico, Peru, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkmenistan, and Chad.

President Ilham Aliyev is committed to strengthening our Armed Forces by acquiring modern weapons, equipment, and machinery, as well as developing new armed units and building a reliable military infrastructure. The purchase of C-27J planes and the construction of four airports in Karabakh and Zangezur are integral parts of this strategic process.

Azerbaijan closely cooperates with Italy, both bilaterally and within the NATO framework. This is evidenced by the bilateral cooperation plan between the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the General Staff of the Republic of Italy.

Strengthening military ties with Italy

The Joint Declaration "On strategic partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Italy," adopted in Rome on July 14, 2014, and approved on September 30, 2014, guides our bilateral relations.

On June 20, 2020, Deputy Minister of Defense and General Director Agil Gurbanov visited Italy. This visit followed a significant meeting with Italian defense leaders, including Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Edmondo Cirielli, and President of Leonardo Company Stefano Pontecorvo. Their visit to Azerbaijan, where they presented the "C-27J" aircraft to Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev, marked the beginning of a new stage in military cooperation between the two strategically allied countries.

Mutual visits play a crucial role in developing relations based on the strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Italy. These interactions indicate that cooperation in military, military-technical, military education, and other fields will expand further in the future.

The introduction of the C-27J Spartan aircraft into our Air Force signifies a major leap forward in enhancing our military capabilities and securing our nation's future.

Adalat Verdiyev is a military expert and has written this article for AzVision.az

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