The C-27J Spartan, built jointly by Alenia and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, was awarded Military Type Certification today by Italy's Ministry of Defense military certification authority, Direzione Generale Armamenti Aeronautici (DGAA).

"This is the most significant milestone in the development program and demonstrates the abilities of our transatlantic team," said Stan Yackel, Lockheed Martin's C-27J program director. "Military certification is a major step toward a low risk production program so the customer is not burdened with development and can field aircraft quickly."

Military certification is required for aircraft that operate in the military environment. The certification processes focused on tactical performance and included tests for short field operation, paradrop, unprepared runway operation and tactical landing.

This certification is a major achievement for the flight test program that began in September 1999. The program included three test aircraft and was supported by the Avionics Systems and Software Integration Laboratories in Marietta.

"LM Aero was responsible for all certification activities related to propulsion and avionics," said Tom Ransdell, C-27J certification manager for LM Aero. "At the conclusion, LM Aero had completed over 370 lab, 280 ground, and 1,550 flight test points and submitted over 180 certification compliance documents for both civil and military certification."

During the overall certification program, the Lockheed Martin/Alenia team conducted 445 flights, accumulated 793 flight test hours and met 4,600 flight test points.

The DGAA's certification builds on the civil certification achieved earlier this year by Ente Nazionale Per L' Aviazione Civile, Italy's equivalent of the U. S. Federal Aviation administration. The DGAA accepted the certification work conducted and certified the airworthiness and performance of the C-27J's military systems.

"The team was able to achieve this certification in a relatively short period of time, proving that we can perform and meet tough challenges," Stan Yackel said.

The C-27J Spartan is being jointly developed by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company and Alenia Inc., a subsidiary of Finmeccanica S.p.A. of Turin, Italy.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company