C-27J Spartan for Azerbaijan Air Force

The number of worldwide users of the Leonardo C-27J Spartan is steadily growing. On 8 June 2023, Leonardo released a press note that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of Azerbaijan signed a contract for acquiring the C-27J Spartan for use with the Azərbaycan Hərbi Hava Qüvvələri (AzAF, Azerbaijan Air Force).

The contract for the transporter is part of an agreement between the Italian and Azerbaijan MoD for an extensive modernisation programme of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, which are increasingly looking to the products of Italian industry.

The Alenia C-27J Spartan is a military transport aircraft developed and manufactured by Leonardo's Aircraft Division (formerly Alenia Aermacchi until 2016). It is an advanced derivative of Alenia Aeronautica's earlier G222, equipped with the engines and various other systems also used on the larger C-130J Super Hercules.

With this new contract, Azerbaijan will become the eighteenth user of the C-27J Spartan. The other users are Italy, Bulgaria, Greece, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia in Europe; Chad, Kenya, Morocco and Zambia in Africa; Turkmenistan in Asia; Mexico, Peru, US Army and US Coast Guard in North and South America; and Australia

The delivery date of the aircraft has not been reported, nor the number of aircraft and if any options have been taken.

Photo by Leonardo