TSAMTO, November 22. The Aviation Systems Directorate of the National Directorate of Armaments of the Italian Ministry of Defense has signed a contract with Leonardo Group for the supply of Slovenia's second BTA C-27J Spartan aircraft.
The conclusion of the contract follows the signing in September 2023 of an amendment to the executive agreement on cooperation in the field of military aviation concluded by the Ministries of Defense of the two countries on November 17, 2021, involving the purchase of the second tactical aircraft BTA C-27J "Spartan".
As reported by TSAMTO, the Ministry of Defense of Slovenia announced its intention to purchase the C-27J Spartan aircraft within the framework of an intergovernmental agreement with Italy on January 15, 2021, based on the results of a comparative assessment. Currently, there are no VTA aircraft in service with the Slovenian Armed Forces.
The intergovernmental agreement under which Slovenia acquires C-27J aircraft was signed on November 17, 2021 by Italian Defense Minister Lorenzo Guerini and Slovenian Defense Minister Matej Tonin.
The contract for the supply of the first C-27J "Spartan" aircraft for the Slovenian Air Force was signed with Leonardo on March 30, 2022. The agreement also provides for the supply of additional equipment for medical evacuation, the provision of training services, integrated logistics support for two years.
The cost of the implementation agreement signed in 2021 is about 72 million euros, including VAT. At the same time, the base price of the aircraft is 48 million euros, the price of additional modules (cargo module, passenger transport module, module for transporting infected persons, module for transporting the lightly and seriously injured with a vital functions control and fire extinguishing module) is 11 million euros. The total cost also includes material support, spare parts, crew training, simulators, technical documentation and certification.
The amendment signed in September 2023 provides for the purchase of a second C-27J aircraft of the same configuration as the first, with a two-year warranty for 45.4 million euros (excluding VAT).
In addition to the above-mentioned costs for the purchase of the first and second aircraft, it is necessary to pay for the supply of ground support equipment, comprehensive logistics support and training of personnel, as well as the supply of spare parts and additional materials, a fire extinguishing system and a passenger transport module. The cost of buying two aircraft also includes the expenses of the Italian Military Aviation Administration and the administrative expenses of the Italian Ministry of Defense for the period of the executive agreement.
Taking into account additional ground equipment, spare parts and related services, the total cost of purchasing two C-27J aircraft is 128.9 million euros (excluding VAT).
The first BTA C-27J aircraft has already been assembled, it is currently undergoing certification and is expected to arrive in Slovenia in December 2023. Delivery of the second aircraft is expected in December 2024.
The new generation C-27J Spartan is equipped with a glass cabin with five multifunctional color screens, new avionics and radar system, and modern communication systems.
