Leonardo (Formerly Alenia Aermacchi) C-27j Spartan

Twin Turboprop

The C-27J Spartan is a twin-turboprop tactical airlifter designed for short-field operations and austere environments where larger transports cannot venture. Built by Leonardo (formerly Alenia Aermacchi) in partnership with Lockheed Martin for the U.S. Air Force variant, the Spartan shares its Rolls-Royce AE2100 engines and six-blade Dowty propellers with the larger C-130J Hercules, giving it exceptional power and commonality with frontline airlift fleets. First flown in 1999 as an evolution of the earlier G.222, the C-27J entered service with the Italian Air Force in 2007 and has since been adopted by more than a dozen nations including the United States, Australia, Romania, and Peru. Its rear cargo ramp can accommodate three standard NATO pallets or up to 68 troops, and it can operate from unpaved strips as short as 1,800 feet, a capability that makes it indispensable for humanitarian relief, special operations support, and resupply missions in remote or combat zones. The aircraft cruises at 300 knots and has a range of roughly 1,100 nautical miles with maximum payload, positioning it between smaller utility transports and the heavier C-130. Operators value its ability to land on dirt, grass, or damaged runways while carrying loads that would ground smaller aircraft. The Royal Australian Air Force, for instance, uses its fleet for both domestic disaster response across the vast Outback and regional peacekeeping missions throughout the Pacific. SkyMeter has tracked 87 flights across 14 airframes and 1 operators, covering distinct routes.