News Review: Defence seeks C-27J FMS info | ADM Dec 2011 / Jan 2012
Minister for Defence, Stephen Smith, and Minister for Defence Materiel, Jason Clare, have announced the next step in the program to replace the DHC4 Caribou transport aircraft under Project Air 8000 Ph.2.
“Since the retirement of the Caribou fleet in 2009, Australia has had a military capability gap of fixed wing battlefield tactical airlift,” they said. “The capability gap has to date been partially met by the C-130J and C-130H Hercules aircraft, the Interim Light Transport aircraft (8 Beechcraft King Air 350 aircraft) and helicopters.
“The C-130H is due to retire in 2013, although Defence is developing a proposal to retain these aircraft until 2016.”
Air 8000 Phase 2 will replace the Caribou with a Battlefield Airlifter (BFA) capability of up to 10 light tactical fixed wing aircraft.
“Defence analysis has confirmed that the C-27J Spartan is an aircraft that could meet Australia’s battlefield tactical airlift capability need,” the minister said. “This aircraft is operated by the US Air National Guard, which has a planned total fleet of 38 aircraft. Due to the pending closure of the production line for US Air National Guard aircraft the Government has authorised Defence to issue a non-binding/no-commitment Letter of Request seeking price and availability information on the C-27J.
“The issuing of a Letter of Request does not involve any financial or contractual commitment on Australia to acquire the aircraft,” they emphasised, though commentators have noted it is unusual for a government to submit an FMS request without following it through.
There is also a shadow over the future of the C-27J in US service, with the US Air Force considering retiring it to cut costs, while the US Army is lobbying strenuously to keep it in service.
The response to the FMS request will inform Government consideration of capability, cost and schedule issues associated with the project as well as consideration of the acquisition strategy, including whether a broader tender process will be pursued.
Future Government consideration of this project will involve consideration of other aircraft which could meet Australia’s need. This includes the Airbus Military C-295 aircraft and it’s understood that Defence has also requested pricing and availability for the C-295.
Defence anticipates receiving a response to the Letter of Request by February 2012. By that time the future of the Air National Guard’s C-27Js should be known; if slated for disposal they could be available to the ADF at a very competitive ‘mates rates’ price.