Farnborough 2012: MC-27J gunship Spartan launched by Alenia Aeronautica and ATK

One of the most interesting thing I’ve found here at Farnborough Air Show 2012, is the first glimpse to a Special Operations version of the C-27J.

Officially designated MC-27J, the main feature of the gunship version of the Spartan is an ATK GAU-23 30mm precision weapon kit. It can be used to fire all types of NATO 30mm x 173 rounds, as well as the New Super 40 ammunition.

The kit is installed on the left hand side rear door and can be mounted in less than 4 hours.

Obviously, the MC-27J lower procurement and operating costs than the heavier C-130J and Finmeccanica group company’s Alenia believes there’s a potential market of about 50 planes that can be interested in the palletised solution.

About David Cenciotti
David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.