Aeritalia G.222/Alenia C-27J

[GTX]

Hi folks,

The recent news of an Italeri C-27J kit coming out is worth starting a thread dedicated to whiffs of the Aeritalia G.222/Alenia C-27J series.  Here are some thoughts:

Some real world ideas apparently under consideration:

Andy Nativi/Aviation Week & Space Technology

Stretched C-27J could open doors to special ops and intel versions

Printed headline: SPECIAL SPARTAN

Eager to build on the international success the C-27J has garnered to date, Alenia Aeronautica officials are drawing up plans for derivatives for the small tactical transport that could see the cargo hauler pressed into a number of new roles.

The centerpiece of the mission expansion is a stretched version that will allow it to carry more troops or equipment, says Alessandro Franzoni, chief technical officer and head of Alenia's C-27J business unit. The stretched aircraft isn't linked to a specific variant. Instead, it should expand the C-27J's capacity to accommodate a variety of new missions, Alenia believes.

Special operations, signals intelligence and airborne early warning roles could all be accomplished with the stretched version. The company is betting that customers in both Italy and the U.S. would be interested in such applications. While a standard C-27J could take on some of those missions, such as special ops, the extra real estate a stretch would provide could be instrumental in attracting prospective buyers, the Italian company believes.

The goal would be to broaden the customer base, a group that already includes Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Lithuania and the U.S., which has chosen it as its Joint Cargo Aircraft, although the latter award is being contested by the losing team of Raytheon/EADS CASA.

The stretch would be achieved by inserting a double airframe "plug," each 1.5 meters long (adding three frames) forward and rearward of the wing, extending the fuselage by 3 meters (9.8 ft.). The fuselage change translates into a cabin length of 11.6 meters, compared with the current 8.5, for a total aircraft length increase of 25.7 meters from 22.7.

The larger fuselage would accommodate 64 troops (using three rows of seats) or 46 paratroops when using the airborne assault seating layout. Currently, 46 troops or 34 paratroops can be carried by the basic aircraft. In a cargo role, the stretched aircraft would be able to transport four full 2.2 X 2.7-meter pallets. Floor strength and volume density is not a limiting factor due to the inherent strength of the structural design. The stretched aircraft is to have the same payload as the standard version, 9 tons, while the maximum take-off weight will increase to 32,650 kg. (71,980 lb.) from the current 31,800-kg. limit.

Alenia Aeronautica is betting that the longer fuselage would be preferred by the military and give the aircraft an edge against the EADS CASA C-295 and larger C-130J in internal competitions.

The special operations role in many respects is in the C-27J's blood. The predecessor aircraft, the G-222, also designated the C-27A, was used by the U.S. for such assignments in Central and South America. Italian army special forces, too, have employed the transport.

For the C-27J, the manufacturer is hoping to make a pitch for the U.S. Army's special operations requirement for a smaller airlifter. U.S. Air Force elite units have also expressed interest in a platform smaller than the Lockheed Martin C-130 for some roles.

The special operations version would come with a high-end self-protection system, including laser-based directed infrared countermeasures with four jam-head turrets for full spherical coverage. The aircraft would include a digital electronic support measures system, and armor for the cockpit, cabin and other areas to protect sensitive equipment. The addition of a forward-looking infrared (Flir) system would allow terrain-following night operations. To ensure that special forces are in constant contact and able to perform on-the-go mission planning, the aircraft would be fitted with an extensive communications suite with satcom.

The move into the special operations domain is already underway. Italy has identified the aircraft as the fixed-wing backbone of an anticipated Special Forces dedicated wing that will report to the 1st Aerobrigade (formerly an air defense missile unit). That group is to become the air force element of the Joint Special Forces Command, or COFS (Comando Interforze per le Operazioni Speciali).

To address that demand, Alenia has drafted a basic configuration that includes enhanced communications and navigations capabilities, particularly to allow terrain-following flight even without a dedicated terrain-following radar. The sensors would include a turreted Flir under the nose of the aircraft and a fixed, smaller Flir above to enable low-altitude operations; the sensors would be augmented by an obstacle-warning system, which is viewed as essential even when the aircraft is used for relatively low-threat peacekeeping missions in remote and stark locations.

Pilots would likely receive a full helmet-mounted display in addition to the heads-up display to allow a wider field of view and increased situational awareness. The aircraft would also feature a dedicated workstation in the cargo hold for use by the commander of the special forces team to aid in mission planning.

One of the challenges is finding a spot on the fuselage for key antenna and other sensors. The C-27J already has a large number of apertures, so space in that particular area is at a premium.

Alenia officials wouldn't name potential clients for the high-end version of the C-27J, but Israel, Jordan and at least one other Middle East buyer have expressed interest, according to industry sources.

In addition to a troop-insertion special operations MC-27J version, the Italian Special Forces Command has investigated a gunship version, effectively an AC-27J. Alenia Aeronautica has performed preliminary studies into installation of two side-mounted, 20-mm. caliber guns with the necessary stabilization, aiming and ammunition feed systems. However, for now those ambitions have moved to the back burner in Italy, and there's a sense they would only be revived if coupled with a U.S. program.

Alenia also is chasing an Italian program for a new signals intelligence aircraft, although the C-27J, at least for the moment, is at best a long shot. The military seems intent on fielding a turbofan-powered aircraft that could operate at higher altitudes and reach a target area more quickly. The Sigint C-27J would come with a fixed-mission suite inside the cabin and a number of antennas spread under radomes on the tail and the fuselage.

But the sigint ambitions aren't completely squelched. Alenia is keeping an eye on the U.S. Army's re-emerging Aerial Common Sensor program, following the service's realization that it couldn't fit the mission equipment into the Embraer ERJ 145-derivative platform. The Army is reassessing its sensor needs, and a new program could emerge in the near future.

Momentum seems to be building to fit the transport with a dorsal-fin-housed airborne early warning radar, driven largely by interest from Asia.

More mundane mission kits also have been developed, including a VIP configuration -- the choice of the Lithuanian air force. The option allows the cabin to hold up to three 9-seat modules or a combination of up to two, plus a VIP version -- the latter can host six passengers in business-class comfort. This configuration is seen as particularly attractive for countries that can't afford a dedicated cargo and transport fleet.

Additionally, Alenia has been working with Cobham in the U.K. to devise an air refueler kit. The system would use a roll-on/roll-off system, including a fuel tank and a drum with the reeling drogue tube, which would be extended through the rear ramp. A more refined option is also under study that would fully integrate the air refueling and aircraft fuel systems. For added capacity, the C-27J can host an additional fuel tank in the center wing section.

Although the C-27J currently has excess thrust margin, Alenia and turboprop-provider Rolls-Royce have devised plans to get more thrust out of the AE2100D3s. The main change would be in the full-authority digital engine control (Fadec) to increase by 10% the take-off engine rating. Although that would diminish on-wing time, it would generate enough power to maintain current performance levels at a higher operating weight. The tweak will be available for retrofit, but be the standard for JCA, Franzoni says.

To minimize the need for added thrust, Alenia is investigating lighter-weight materials. For instance, use of composite materials for the cargo doors is seen as a possibility.

What is still uncertain is if any of these grandiose plans will lead to a significant increase in the aircraft order book or merely add pages to a C-27J presentation.

An AEW variant:



And a stretched variant:



Regards,

Greg

[GTX]

What if the original Fiat G.222 V/STOL (from which the C-27J is ultimately derived) was revisited - i.e. add some sort of lift fans (maybe derived from the F-35 system) to the nacelles?  Maybe even replace the Rolls-Royce Allison AE2100-D2A turboprops with something more powerful, say a pair of Europrop International TP400-D6s from the A-400M?

Fiat G.222 V/STOL:




I am very tempted to take this idea further in the real world.

Regards,

Greg

[GTX]

Maybe replace the turboprops with jets either slung under the wings or even An-72 style?

BTW, does anyone have a decent 3-view drawing of the C-27J?

Regards,

Greg

[dragon]

Do kits exist of this plane?

[GTX]

Something I just found:



Also see here.

Regards,

Greg

[GTX]

Do kits exist of this plane?

The G.222 or C-27J?

Apparently Sky Models of Italy do a 1/72 Resin G.222/C-27 Spartan and there is also the above-mentioned Italeri C-27J kit coming out.

Regards,

Greg

[GTX]

Other possibilities:

Beat the USAF to do a AC-27J or simply do it in non-USAF scheme (I vote for RAAF):



Or maybe a mini tanker KC-27J?

Or maybe a USN COD UC-27J?

Regards,

Greg

[rallymodeller]

Tiltrotor/tiltwing!

[ChernayaAkula]

So, a C-27 is nothing but a G.222? And the C-27J just brings different engines and avionics?

[anthonyp]

Maybe replace the turboprops with jets either slung under the wings or even An-72 style?

BTW, does anyone have a decent 3-view drawing of the C-27J?

Regards,

Greg

Found these while searching the web:

[GTX]

Thanks - I'm ideally after a black and white line drawing though so as to be better able to illustrate some of these ideas.

Regards,

Greg

[GTX]

Speaking of ideas, here's another - MC-27J Special Ops aircraft with NVS and other 'special' bumps.

Regards,

Greg

[dragon]

Do kits exist of this plane?

The G.222 or C-27J?

Apparently Sky Models of Italy do a 1/72 Resin G.222/C-27 Spartan and there is also the above-mentioned Italeri C-27J kit coming out.

Regards,

Greg

So it is a comparison between the Italeri job or the resin.
I was looking for a plain old G.222 in 1/72 for real world build.

[Thorvic]

So it is a comparison between the Italeri job or the resin.
I was looking for a plain old G.222 in 1/72 for real world build.

The Skymodels Resin kit is of the G222 and is currently available (email sent)

The Italeri C-27J kit is of the current version with the new turbo props as per the C-130J. However this kit won't been released till later in the year (if were lucky !!!! - Some Italeri kits take more than a year to appear if at all).

There is a strong possibility that Italeri may issue a 2nd version of the kit in the guise of the earlier Fiat G222 with the original engines as they tend to make the most of their premium kits, but thats likely to be another 12mths or more after the C-27 kit is issued.

Cheers

Geoff 

[dragon]

So it is a comparison between the Italeri job or the resin.
I was looking for a plain old G.222 in 1/72 for real world build.

The Skymodels Resin kit is of the G222 and is currently available (email sent)

The Italeri C-27J kit is of the current version with the new turbo props as per the C-130J. However this kit won't been released till later in the year (if were lucky !!!! - Some Italeri kits take more than a year to appear if at all).

There is a strong possibility that Italeri may issue a 2nd version of the kit in the guise of the earlier Fiat G222 with the original engines as they tend to make the most of their premium kits, but thats likely to be another 12mths or more after the C-27 kit is issued.

Cheers

Geoff 

Thanks for the E-mail. 
However that kit scares me in two ways (price and possible complexity)