A different beast

The C-27J is not a straight replacement for the RAAF’s much-loved Caribou, but nor is it a mini Hercules. With all 10 aircraft now in the fleet, Australian Aviation visited 35 Squadron at RAAF Base Richmond to learn more about the growing maturity of the ADF newest airlift asset.

What is a Spartan

The C-27J is a modern development of the 30-year-old G.222/C-27A which enjoyed a moderately successful but relatively short-lived career in Italian and US service respectively.

The C-27J was jointly-developed by Alenia and Lockheed Martin to replace older C-130s and to complement the larger C-130J Super Hercules in service. The C-27J was a considerable upgrade from the original G.222 and, with a view to commonality, shared many of the C-130J’s systems including engines, the cargo handling system, and avionics.