Alenia Wins $287M Order to Supply Refurbished G-222s for Afghan Air Corps

Alenia North America, Inc., of Washington, D.C., is being awarded a firm fixed price contract not to exceed $287 million. This requirement is for the acquisition of 18 refurbished G-222 (USAF designation: C-27A) aircraft to support the Afghan National Army Air Corps (ANAAC). The procurement also includes an initial inlay of spare parts and Ground Support Equipment (GSE) to support the fleet; technical manuals in English and Dari; two Very-Important People (VIP) modules; technical publications support; engineering studies; mission support kits; and Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) services for one year. This effort supports foreign military sales to Afghanistan (100 percent). At this time all funds have been obligated. Alenia Aeronautica, through its American subsidiary Alenia North America, will provide the Combined Security Transition Command in Afghanistan with eighteen refurbished G.222 medium tactical transport aircraft. These will be transferred by the United States Air Force’s Combined Air Power Transition Force in Kabul to the Afghanistan National Army Air Corps (ANAAC). Initial aircraft delivery will occur in mid-2009 and deliveries will continue through 2011. "The American choice to re-equip the Afghan Air Forces confirms that the G.222 can still be considered today pride of "made in Italy" and "father" of one of Alenia Aeronautica's main programs, the C-27J Spartan", said Giovanni Bertolone, Alenia Aeronautica's CEO. "This achievement, 30 years after the entry into service of the aircraft, proves the projects' validity: specifically conceived for military uses, the G.222 still stands out with its excellent performance, reliability, robustness and capability of carrying out the required missions in the most critical operational scenarios; at the same time, Alenia Aeronautica demonstrates itself as "global" leader within the tactical transport aircraft field". “Alenia North America is proud once again to support the United States Armed Forces in the global war on terrorism by providing a time-tested, robust aircraft to be utilized in Afghanistan by the ANAAC,” said Giuseppe Giordo, president and chief executive officer of Alenia North America, Inc. “These aircraft possess a critical and necessary capability to enable the Afghanistan government to rapidly provide humanitarian assistance, medical evacuation, and logistic support to the Afghan people throughout the country, especially in remote areas not easily accessible by road and or isolated by terrain. This announcement, combined with the recent JCA award, further demonstrates the company’s commitment to the U.S. market”. Alenia North America as prime contractor is responsible for programme management, while Alenia Aeronautica will refurbish the aircraft in Naples, Italy. Logistical support in Afghanistan will be carried out by L-3 Vertex, an American company. A modified version of the G.222 known as the C-27A was operated by the USAF during the 1990s and continues to be operated by the U.S. Government while the G.222 is still in service with air forces around the world. The G.222 configuration proposed for the G.222-ANAAC programme is a derivative of the G.222 Italian Military Certified Aircraft (G.222 TCM). Eighteen ex-Italian Air Force G.222 will be refurbished with updated avionics and general system improvements to provide each aircraft with the capability to perform the tactical airlift roles prescribed by the USAF. Two aircraft, in VIP configuration, will support the Afghan government airlift requirements.