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C-27J choice brings surprises, smiles and sour grapes

In a move that surprised even the RAAF, the Australian government announced only 36 hours after the federal budget that 10 Alenia C-27J transports will be acquired at $1. 4 billion to fulfil the AIR 8000 Phase 2 Battlefield Airlifter (BFA) requirement.

On budget night, it was confirmed the RAAF’s eight remaining C-130H Hercules would be retired early as part of Defence’s contribution to the government’s pre-federal election plan to return to surplus. Given that, the timng of the C-27J announcement from Defence Minister Stephen Smith and Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare on May 10 was unexpected to say the least.