Alenia North America said today it still plans to build C-27J cargo planes for the Army and Air Force in the U.S., but they are still waiting for a report from American officials – and it may not necessarily be at Cecil Field in Jacksonville.
“The project is still on hold pending the outcome of the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), due out in February,” said Jacksonville Aviation Authority spokesman Michael Stewart.
Alenia spokeswoman Brittany C. Toscano in Washington told Examiner “based on the continued global success of the C-27J Spartan aircraft, and its current projected quantity of joint cargo aircraft, Alenia remains committed to expanding its industrial presence in the U.S.”
She explained, “Alenia North America’s intent to establish a final assembly facility in the U.S. has not changed; however, due to the changes in the program outlined in the President’s Fiscal Year 2010 budget, which directly impacted Alenia’s projected business plan, we have had to reconsider the establishment of our North American assembly line.”
$#%@$!$$$!~!*$ SHIT! SHIT! SHIT! X&$^x@$!%#$!@
OCKLAWAHA
This is an issue of the Air Force taking over an Army project and basically killing it. The AF never wanted the C-27J, they wanted to buy more C-130's. The army has been arguing that the C-130 is larger than what they need and required a longer more improved runway than there present sherpas and other smaller aircraft require. They appear to be flying almost only partially loaded C-130's in support of army operations. The advantages of the C-27J smaller, shorter take off and landing, many components interchangable with the c-130 and theSpartan could accept the current C-130 pallets.
But once the AF got there hands on it, they reduced the buy quantity to such a degree that its not economical to build a brand new plant in the US, so that leaves Cecil out of the loop yet again. Maybe the QDR will up the buy, but if so the AF will fight it tooth and nail. Lockheed has a better retirement plan!!
