ROME - The Pentagon has ordered seven C-27J airlifters for $203 million, bringing its order total to 13 aircraft, L-3 Communications reported April 20.
L-3, the prime contractor on the U.S. Army and Air Force Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) program, is teamed with Italy's Alenia Aeronautica.
Orders are ultimately expected to reach 78.
The first two aircraft have been delivered to the Army, and a source close to the JCA team previously said that a third should fly from Alenia's Italian production line to the United States in August and be delivered to the Army in January 2010.
The fourth aircraft will be delivered to the Army in April 2010, the fifth in August 2010 and the sixth in October 2010.
With training for Army pilots and loadmasters under way, the first base for the aircraft will be a Georgia Army National Guard facility in Warner Robins, Ga.
The follow-up order for seven aircraft was placed in January, although L-3 named the contract value for the first time April 20.
Alenia broke off talks in February with Boeing to run a final assembly line in Jacksonville, Fla., for the aircraft. The firm now plans to have the line operational in April 2010, working alone or with a new partner, where it aims to carry out final assembly on subsequent orders.
The Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) program is ready to test a few components that soldiers may have in their hands by 2010.
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