Italian defense company Leonardo has delivered Slovenia’s first C-27J Spartan military transport aircraft at the Cerklje ob Krki airfield in Brežice.
The handover is part of military cooperation between Italy and Slovenia seeking to integrate new airborne capabilities into Ljubljana’s military.
The initial C-27J contract was signed in 2021 for $96.4 million. A second Spartan order was announced in 2023 on top of six multipurpose helicopters, increasing Slovenia’s investment to $174.5 million.
The C-27J incorporates advanced avionics and communication systems, a glass cockpit with five multifunctional colored screens, and a new radar specialized for tactical transport missions.
It is powered by two Rolls Royce AE2100-D2A engines for a top speed of 325 knots (602 kilometers/374 miles per hour) and an altitude of 9,144 meters (30,000 feet).
The aircraft can carry up to 60 personnel and a maximum payload of 11,300 kilograms (24,900 pounds).
Dual-Role Airborne Asset
Slovenia’s new C-27J will be deployed for both military and humanitarian missions. It will be used to transport troops, equipment and paratrooper airdrops, medical transport, and citizen evacuations.
The aircraft was designed with a Modular Airborne Fire-Fighting System or MAFFS II, a tanker configuration with an eight-ton (8,000-kilogram) water capacity and sprout nozzles to meet the requirements of aerial firefighting.
This solution was produced in partnership with US-based subcontractor United Aeronautical Corporation.
“The aircraft will not only be used by the Slovenian Armed Forces, but will also be at the service of citizens in the event of natural disasters, such as the ones we witnessed this summer. At that time, the Slovenian Armed Forces were among the first on the ground,” Slovenian Defense Minister Marjan Šarec stated during the ceremony.
“The fleet will be even richer and the Slovenian Armed Forces will have the transport capabilities it needs.”
“If we want to recruit new personnel and put the Slovenian Armed Forces in its rightful place, we need to invest in research and development and integrate Slovenian knowledge.”
