Tactical lift and FWSAR commonality not all it's cracked up to be?
That's what Ross Reynolds, head of Air Mobility Programs at LockMart seemed to be saying in a Vanguard article I've just read:
That puts paid to one of the better arguments in favour of the C-27J, I'd say.
One contender for the SAR contract, the C-27J, has often been touted for its compatibility with the C-130. It sounds, though, as though the J could take on the entire role?
Several years ago when we helped develop the C-27J there was a high degree of commonality between the two aircraft. Since then the C-27J has taken a separate development path for market reasons and there are now almost no similarities between the C-130J and the current C-27J configuration.
That puts paid to one of the better arguments in favour of the C-27J, I'd say.
posted by Babbling Brooks at 10:00 a.m.
4 Comments:
But what does it mean ?
The statement needs some clarity - is he talking about the common cockpit & engines or how development is happening.
Agreed it is an interesting turn of events but I think we need ++ info
quick google says the engines & props are the same . . .
'The C-27J is equipped with two AE 2100D3 turboshaft engines, supplied by Rolls-Royce Defence North America (formerly Allison). The engines are rated at 5,000shp. Messier-Dowty supply the R391 six-bladed composite propellers"
"The C130J model features a two-crew-member flight system, 6,000 skip Allison AE 21 00D3 engines and all-composite Dowty R391 propellers,
Let's remember that Ross Reynolds works for LockMart Air Mobility Programs, pushing the C-130J for SAR, not touting the attributes of the "competitor" Alenia-Lockmart C-27J.
According the the well-footnoted Wikipedia article on the C-27J, it still shares the same Rolls-Royce AE 2100 engines, six bladed props and much avionics.
IF all this is so, that would imply that the same AF techs who work on the C-130J could also work on the C-27J. Ditto this commonality for other logistics and support functions. That'd translate into large savings of time and money.
Maybe we need to hear from the Alenia-Lockmart folks on these points. In the interim, the Alenia-Lockmart C-27J website has some interesting information, particularly on the important matter of interoperability.
The propeller is the same. The C-27J engine is the same design, but smaller and lighter than the C-130J engine. This means that while an engine overhaul contractor might gain some savings, the CF would not realize any savings in maintenance personnel, training, spare parts, or operational effectiveness.
Finally, the C-130J avionics have been upgraded six times to date, including a significant configuration change since the C-27J was designed. LM is correct in stating that there are no remaining commonalities or efficiencies between the two airframes in terms of avionics, operating procedures, or maintenance procedures. They are two very different aircraft.
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