The Aerial Firefighting salon in Nimes, France (19-20 March), reaches its sixteenth edition with a great novelty, the new fire-fighting configuration of the Leonardo C-27J aircraft. Equipped with the fire protection system developed by the world leader in the sector, Simplex Aerospace, this new configuration represents an extremely efficient and versatile technological solution for the mission, capable of enhancing the multi-role capabilities of the aircraft while ensuring lower acquisition costs and operational compared to dedicated fire-fighting aircraft.
The Simplex system can be easily installed or removed by crew members in approximately 60-90 minutes through the rear loading ramp and without any significant structural modification. The main tank has a maximum load capacity of 10.600 liters (2.800 gallons). To these can be added 568 liters (150 gallons) of retarding liquid. This fire protection system represents one of the optional solutions that can be adopted by customers of the new basic configuration of the C-27J Spartan, characterized by avionics meeting the requirements of the next generation of air traffic control; new control panels in the cockpit and a modern LED lighting system. With the new systems, operators will benefit from reduced operating costs and greater performance.
The fire-fighting capacity and the new basic configuration are also offered as a retrofit for the current C-27J operators eager to modernize their fleet. In addition to the Simplex fire-fighting system, Leonardo is also studying and experimenting with the European SCODEV consortium a further innovative solution that provides for the possibility of filling the tank by flying over a short stretch of sea or lake or over a river without resorting to to return to the base for water supply. This solution includes a suction system to load water safely in approximately 30 meters, and with a modular approach that allows the aircraft to perform various tasks in addition to fire fighting, such as medical evacuation and transport.
The C-27J Spartan has already been ordered by the Air Forces of Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, United States, Mexico, Australia, Peru, Kenya, Morocco, Chad and Zambia for a total of 85 aircraft.