Azerbaijan to buy C-27J Spartan aircraft from Italy

Europe, News June 9, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

Azerbaijan signed a deal to purchase Italian-made C-27J Spartan aircraft, becoming the 17th country to do so. The deal was signed by a delegation from the Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense in Italy on June 8, 2023.

Without unveiling the number of planes or the total value of the deal, the Italian aircraft manufacturer Leonardo announced that the purchase of the C-27J was finalized through a technical round table meeting between the Italian Ministry of Defense and its Azeri counterpart.

The aircraft sale is a result of the deepening energy ties between Rome and Baku. Azerbaijan is set to supply gas to Italy via the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline. The energy partnership between European countries and Azerbaijan has now spread across different fields allowing Baku to tap into the European defense industry.

“Initially linked to the energy sectors, the collaboration between Italy and Azerbaijan is now also extended to defense industry products thanks to the valuable contribution provided by the Italian Ministry of Defense working group,” Leonardo said in a statement.

During the meeting between Azeri Deputy Defense Minister Agil Gurbanov and Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, both sides finalized the purchase of the C-27J from Leonardo, a tactical transport aircraft with many years of proven experience in the most challenging operational scenarios.

“The agreement is part of the extensive modernization program of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, which are increasingly looking to the products of Italian industry,” the company statement added.

*^{Azerbaijan Deputy Defense Minister Agil Gurbanov with Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto on June 7, 2023. (Image Credit: MENAFN)}*

As a result of the deepening government-to-government ties with Italy, Azerbaijan is negotiating deals with Italy’s state-controlled defense manufacturing firms Leonardo and Fincantieri.

The latest procurement is a part of the extensive modernization program by the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, Baku is supporting its modernization program by buying military products from European markets.

Leonardo’s C-27J Spartan

The C-27J Spartan is twin-turboprop tactical transport aircraft that is equipped with new-generation avionics, propulsion, and navigation systems. The aircraft has a loading system compatible with that of the American-made C-130 Hercules. The C-27J fuselage can carry 2.2 meters-tall pallets weighing up to 4,550 kilograms, or 3.65 meters long platforms weighing up to 6,000 kilograms.

Several militaries around the world use different variants of the C-27J aircraft. The list includes Lithuania, Mexico, Peru, Slovakia, Morocco, Zambia, Romania, Kenya, Chad, Bulgaria, Greece, Slovenia, and Australia. The plane serves as the primary transportation aircraft for the Italian military forces. The United States Coast Guard and the U.S. Special Forces are also using different variants of the C-27J aircraft. The U.S. Air Force extensively used the aircraft during its campaign in Afghanistan.

*^{Royal Australian Air Force C-27J Spartan during a reconnaissance and surveillance mission. (Image Credit: Leonardo)}*

In addition to the classic tactical transport, airdrop of troops, and cargo missions, C-27J can also perform firefighting, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief missions. The plane is also used for VIP transport, ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance), Maritime Patrol, and tactical support missions. It has multiple roll-on/roll-off palletized mission kits and systems that allow quick preparation and interior alteration depending on the nature of the mission.

Leonardo claims that its C-27J Spartan variant has racked up more than 170,000 flight hours. Leonardo is working on a new variant for C-27J which it has termed as Praetorian. The new variant would offer palletized guns, carry precision-guided munitions, and offer support to special forces.