Aero delivered 10th C-27J center wing box

27/04/2009 | Aero Vodochody delivered the 10th C-27J Spartan center wing box to its Italian customer, Alenia Aeronautica (Finmeccanica group). Aero launched the production of the center wing box in 2007 and thus became the only producer of the assembly in the world.

“The C-27J Program represents an order with high level of finalization. The center wing box is fully equipped and ready for final assembly on the aircraft. Such complex orders in the field of aerostructures are our main priority, because they allow us to join interesting international projects, which further increase the value of our company,” says Igor Hulak, President of Aero Vodochody.

"This is one of Alenia Aeronautica’s best demonstrations of its commitment to the Czech Republic, demonstrating with the C-27J aircraft that the collaboration between the Italian and Czech industry will build a winning team in both national and international markets," said Roberto Leva, Alenia Aeronautica Area manager Central and Eastern Europe.

Aero has finished the introduction phase of the production with the ninth center wing box and is today fully responsible for the whole production process. The C-27J Program in Aero includes production of parts and complete aerostructures assembly, including integral fuel landing flaps, engine and fuselage hinges, leading edges with deicers, wire harnesses as well as systems installation and their tests. Aero produces the center wing box in several configurations, manages a chain of more than 30 suppliers from the Czech Republic as well as abroad and supports its customer with full service during the production phase as well as guarantee and after-guarantee. Each center wing box comprises of 3,200 components, 2,000 of which are manufactured by Aero Vodochody.

The C-27J serves the militaries in Italy, Greece, Romania, Bulgaria and Lithuania and deliveries are being prepared for Morocco and the Slovak Republic. In 2007, the C-27J Spartan won a US government tender for the Joint Cargo Aircraft for the US Armed Forces. Under the contract, a total of 78 C-27J Spartans should be delivered to the US Army and US Air Force by the year 2013. Aero Vodochody has successfully passed all the audits for the JCA Program. The marketing forecast of the C-27J Spartan for the next 10 years indicates 350 aircraft worldwide.

AERO Vodochody a.s. is the largest aerospace manufacturer in the Czech Republic, mainly focusing on cooperation with leading aerospace manufacturers in international aerostructures projects – Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (S-76C helicopter), Alenia Aeronautica (C-27J Spartan center wing box), Latecoere (Embraer 170/190 subassemblies), Saab (JAS-39 Gripen pylons), Spirit Aerosystems (B767 fixed leading edge kits), EADS (A320/340 subassemblies), etc. The Military Program of Aero is a long-term partner to the Czech Air Force. This year, Aero celebrates 90 years since its foundation and thus ranks among the oldest aerospace manufacturers in the world.

Alenia Aeronautica, a Finmeccanica company, develops its role as global aeronautical player active in the military and civil markets. The Alenia Aeronautica product portfolio includes proprietary products like the C-27J, the only true modern tactical airlifter available today worldwide, or the ATR42MP and ATR72ASW, special mission aircraft developed for maritime patrol roles. The company also plays key roles in world-class programs like Eurofighter Typhoon, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the Neuron European UCAV demonstrator. It also plays leading roles in commercial aircraft, designing and building advanced aerostructures for state of the art airliners including the Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Finmeccanica is the main Italian industrial group operating globally in the aerospace, defence and security sectors, and is one of the world's leading groups in the fields of helicopters and defence electronics. It is also the European leader for satellite and space services as well as having considerable know-how and production capacity in the energy and transport fields. In the aerospace industry, apart from Alenia Aeronautica, Finmeccanica incorporates companies AgustaWestland or Thales Alenia Space.