Wednesday, October 28, 2009

DTN News: Alenia Wins Training Contract for Afghanistan National Army Air Corps (ANAAC) G-222s (C-27J)

DTN News: Alenia Wins Training Contract for Afghanistan National Army Air Corps (ANAAC) G-222s (C-27J) *Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) ROME, Italy - October 29, 2009: Alenia North America, a unit of Italy's Finmeccanica, has been awarded a $7 million contract to provide G-222 aircrew and maintenance training to the U.S. Air Force, the company said Oct. 27. Alenia Aeronautica, through its American subsidiary Alenia North America, will provide the Combined Security Transition Command in Afghanistan with eighteen refurbished G.222 medium tactical transport aircraft. These will be transferred by the United States Air Force’s Combined Air Power Transition Force in Kabul to the Afghanistan National Army Air Corps (ANAAC). Initial aircraft delivery will occur in 2009 and deliveries will continue through 2011. Alenia North America as prime contractor is responsible for programme management, while Alenia Aeronautica will refurbish the aircraft in Naples, Italy. Logistical support in Afghanistan will be carried out by L-3 Vertex, an American company. A modified version of the G.222 known as the C-27A was operated by the USAF during the 1990s and continues to be operated by the U.S. Government while the G.222 is still in service with air forces around the world. The G.222 configuration proposed for the G.222-ANAAC programme is a derivative of the G.222 Italian Military Certified Aircraft (G.222 TCM). Eighteen ex-Italian Air Force G.222 will be refurbished with updated avionics and general system improvements to provide each aircraft with the capability to perform the tactical airlift roles prescribed by the USAF. Two aircraft, in VIP configuration, will support the Afghan government airlift requirements. The training will be provided to U.S. advisors who are set to work with the Afghanistan National Army Air Corps (ANAAC), which is acquiring 18 G-222 transport aircraft from the U.S. The aircraft, which formerly flew with the Italian Air Force, were resold to the U.S. by Alenia. The training program, which covers pilots, loadmasters, crew chiefs, and maintenance personnel, will last between 15 and 40 days and will involve classroom and flight training at Alenia's facility in Capodichino, Italy. Alenia was contracted in 2008 by the USAF in a $287 million deal to supply the aircraft. The first two aircraft have now been delivered to the USAF and deliveries will continue into 2011. The G-222 aircraft, which were built between 1977 and 1985, are receiving avionics upgrades, while two will also be given sound-proof, VIP transport modules.

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