Spartan

RAAF prepares to regain a resilient battlefield airlifter capability

In the lead-up to the introduction of the Alenia C-27J Spartan into RAAF service, command of 35SQN – the aircraft’s designated operating unit – was temporality passed from 84WG to the C-27J Transition Team on January 21. The transition comes as the first of 10 RAAF aircraft arrived in the US on February 11 to commence its US-common combat systems fitout with L-3 in Waco, Texas.

Led by GPCAPT Steve Young, the C-27J TT has developed from the former Battlefield Airlifter Transition Office (BFATO), with the office’s remit evolving from determining the aircraft’s specification and operating structure to oversight of its introduction into RAAF service. Much as the RAAF did with the KC-30A MRTT at Amberley, the C-27J TT will act as 35SQN’s ‘de-facto wing’ oversight organisation during the service entry phase, and will hand the unit back to 84WG when the aircraft achieves its initial operational capability (IOC) in mid to late 2016.