Leonardo, Northrop Grumman Australia offers C-27J Spartan to New Zealand

A Leonardo C-27J Spartan medium tactical transport aircraft of the Royal Australian Air Force. Photo c/o Australian Aviation.



Italy’s Leonardo signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreement of partnership with Northrop Grumman Australia to offer the C-27J Spartan medium tactical transport aircraft for the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) to replace its fleet of ageing Lockheed C-130H Hercules.

The RNZAF is looking to fulfil a requirement under its Future Air Mobility Capability (FAMC) programme, which is expected to issue a tender for procurement support within the year.

Under the agreement, Leonardo will supply the aircraft, while Northrop Grumman Australia will provide aftersales support including engineering and logistics service similar to what it does with for C-27J Spartan fleet of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), which operates 10 aircraft since 2012.

The joint Leonardo-Northrop Grumman Australia team also considers investing to develop a maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capability in New Zealand, should the C-27J Spartan be considered.



[1] Jane’s Defense Industry
[2] Air Force Technology
[3] Defense Aerospace

Leonardo, Northrop Grumman Australia offers C-27J Spartan to New Zealand Leonardo, Northrop Grumman Australia offers C-27J Spartan to New Zealand Reviewed by Asia Pacific Defense Journal on March 04, 2019 Rating: 5

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