Published: June 13, 2007 06:57 pm      

L-3 IS wins Joint Cargo Aircraft competition

By David Wilfong

Herald-Banner Staff



The Department of Defense announced late Wednesday that the C-27J Spartan aircraft offered by L-3 Integrated Systems had been selected as the designated aircraft for the Joint Cargo Aircraft program. The winning bid was acquired through cooperative agreements with Alenia North America (a Finmeccanica Company), Boeing Integrated Defense Systems, and Global Military Aircraft Systems, among others.

The contract is estimated to be worth at least $2 billion over the life of the program as it calls for the production of a minimum of 78 aircraft to serve a light cargo role in both the Army and the Air Force. There is a possibility of extended purchases, as well as sales to the military forces of other allied nations.

“We are very pleased with the selection and acknowledgment that the C-27J aircraft represents the best value for the government. It is a proud day for L-3 and we look forward to a long term partnership with the Army and Air Force in support of this mission,” said President and Chief Operating Officer of L-3 Integrated Systems Group Bob Drewes in a statement released following the announcement of the winning bid.

The JCA program is a Joint Service program designed to fill a critical gap that exists today in intra-theater airlift support for U.S. troops on the ground. The C-27J will replace the U.S. Army’s C-23 Sherpas, C-26 and various C-12 aircraft, and will augment the U.S. Air Force’s existing fleet of intra-theater airlifters. The aircraft will play a key role in providing responsive aerial sustainment, critical re-supply, MEDEVAC, troop transport, airdrop operations, humanitarian assistance and missions in support of Homeland Security.

The win was a boon to the Greenville-headquartered L-3 IS, a subsidiary of L-3 Communications. To win the contract, the C-27J Spartan aircraft had to go head-to-head with the EADS C-295 which was being offered by Raytheon, the former owner of the Greenville plant.

Raytheon had touted the C-295’s fuel-efficiency on an individual craft basis, but L-3 countered — apparently successfully — that the C-27J could carry “more cargo, farther and faster” and was therefore the more efficient choice.

There is currently a version of the C-27A Spartan aircraft that is already performing counter-drug activities for the United States in Central and South America. They have also been deployed by the United States, NATO, Coalition Forces, the United Nations and Italy in support of military and humanitarian operations around the world.

The contract win went over well at L-3 Communications, the parent company in New York.

“We are extremely proud of the C-27J JCA Team,” said Michael T. Strianese, President and Chief Executive Officer of L-3 Communications. “This award enhances our well-established expertise as an aircraft systems integrator of critical aircraft serving our military and allies. Our team’s approach meets the needs of the warfighter.”

It is unclear at present what level of impact that the JCA program will have on the local economy, but according to the Clarion Ledger of Jackson, Ms., the Global Military Aircraft Systems part of the contract is expected to bring another 100 jobs to that city.

Parts of the assembly process will be carried out in Jacksonville, Fla. at the Cecil Commerce Center where Boeing has operations. L-3 has indicated that additional work may take place at either or both of its plants in Greenville and Waco.