Saudi Arabian oil giant Aramco is to acquire two Leonardo C-27J transports, for use in multiple roles including aerial firefighting.

Announced at the Paris air show on 17 June, the deal will lead to the twin-turboprops being delivered from 2027.

They will be operated by Aloula Aviation for Aramco subsidiary Mukamalah Aviation, which will provide support services at an in-country centre.

Applications for the pair will include “cargo transport, firefighting, oil spill response, and medical evacuation operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”, the Italian airframer says.

C-27J firefighter

If required, the aircraft can have the roll-on/roll-off Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS II) loaded or removed within 1h 30min.

Operating as the C-27J Next Generation Fire Fighter, the airlifter will carry a 7,500-litre tank in its cargo bay, which can be filled in under 10min.

“At an average speed of 130kt (250km/h), a pressurised jet of water mixed with fire-retardant liquid can cover a large amount of ground with each drop,” Leonardo says. The payload is delivered via a spray nozzle mounted in the left-hand fuselage door.

“This provides further evidence of the platform’s versatility, uniquely combining cargo transport and firefighting and disaster response capabilities with a high level of customisation,” it adds.

Aramco becomes the first civilian customer for the C-27J, and also Leonardo’s first for the type in the Middle East. It notes, however, that the Saudi company is a long-standing user of Leonardo Helicopters products.

The new order edges the company closer towards achieving three-figure sales of the C-27J – it states that lifetime orders now stand at 95 examples, for 20 operators.

The operational fleet has to date accumulated more than 270,000 flight hours, it adds.





Source link

Posted in
Uncategorized
Related Posts
Limousine Comments are Closed

Plan the perfect NYC Memorial Day weekend

Pack only what you need and avoid overpacking to streamline the check-in and security screening…

News Comments are Closed

LA’s worst traffic areas and how to avoid them

Consider using alternative routes, such as Sepulveda Boulevard, which runs parallel to the 405 in…

Denmark, Germany and NATO among sales prospects for GlobalEye surveillance aircraft, Saab chief executive says

European interest in Saab’s GlobalEye surveillance aircraft is continuing to build, as the Swedish company…

Ukraine exploring purchase of Bell AH-1Z attack and UH-1Y utility helicopters

Ukraine has signed a letter of intent with rotorcraft manufacturer Bell exploring the purchase of…

Italy plans to restore lapsed maritime patrol capability with six-aircraft buy

Italy has outlined plans to acquire six new maritime patrol aircraft capable of performing anti-submarine…

Stockholm Arlanda takes advantage of ‘EoR’ concept to increase parallel approach efficiency

Stockholm Arlanda is claiming to be the first European airport to introduce a concept intended…

Norway presses ahead with defence helicopter acquisitions, as talks continue with UK on ASW assets

Norway continues to analyse the options for a future anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopter to equip…

Airbus Helicopters open to H225 Super Puma’s return for oil and gas operations

Airbus Helicopters is seeing renewed interest in its H225 Super Puma for offshore operations, almost…

Baykar’s Kizilelma UCAV soars through Aselsan AESA radar integration and weapons testing

Baykar Technologies’ Kizilelma unmanned combat air vehicle has been flown for the first time with…

EASA foresees sufficient production capacity to meet EU’s 2030 sustainable fuel target

Sustainable aviation fuel in the European Union only accounted for 0.6% of the total uplift…

Regional aircraft lessor TrueNoord to advise Elysian on development of battery-powered E9X

Netherlands-based Elysian Aircraft is to collaborate with regional aircraft lessor TrueNoord on the development of…

Post a comment

Your email address will not be published.