TURIN, Italy, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- The first of 10 C-27J tactical transport aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force has been assembled by Italy's Alenia Aermacchi.
The twin-engine turboprop was built under contract to L-3 Communications of the United States for a U.S. Foreign Military Sales deal.
The C-27J Spartan is medium-sized airlifter with a range of 1,151 miles with a 22,000 pound payload. It has a service ceiling of 30,000 feet and a cruising speed of 362 mph.
Alenia Aermacchi said assembly of the aircraft involved joining wing structures to the fuselage and attaching engines, landing gear and other major components to the aircraft.
The work was performed at its Turin facility. Other equipment installations are now taking place and the aircraft will undergo functional testing prior to delivery.
The aircraft is scheduled to be delivered to L-3 Communications for Australia early next year.
The C-27J is either in service, or ordered by, 10 countries, including the United States, Lithuania, Greece, Italy and Mexico.
