Slovenia buying second transport aircraft from Italy
The first C-27J Spartan aircraft is expected to arrive in Slovenia in December. Photo: Borut Podgoršek
Slovenia will purchase a second C-27J Spartan transport aircraft from Italy under an agreement signed by the countries' defence ministers, Marjan Šarec and Guido Crosetto. The first such aircraft, bought two years ago, is due to arrive in Slovenia in December.
The purchase will enable the Slovenian Armed Forces to provide tactical airlift of troops and cargo, and the aircraft will also be used for the transport of people and cargo in cases of natural and other disasters and to help fight wildfires, the Defence Ministry said on 19 September.
Having two aircraft for these purposes means one will be available at all times, including when the other will undergo maintenance.
The aircraft will be used in international operations and missions and for transport in the areas covered by the Slovenian army as well as for evacuation of Slovenian troops. They will provide support to other state bodies as well as NATO and the EU, and the civil protection during emergencies.
They will also be used to help partner countries that do not have such capabilities and for active participation in international programmes of air transport such as the Air Transport & Air-to-Air Refuelling and other Exchanges of Services.
Slovenia purchased the first C-27J Spartan two years ago. The ministry said the country managed to negotiate an almost €3.5 million discount for the same configuration for the second aircraft. The modules for firefighting and passenger transportation, which Slovenia already has, will be used by both aircraft.
Slovenia bought the second aircraft for €45.4 million without VAT with a two-year guarantee. The first aircraft, with all the certificates, the MEDEVAC standard and special modules, a biological decontamination module, a ballistic module and a two-year guarantee, cost €48.85 million excluding VAT, according to the ministry.
Additional costs include the costs of equipment for ground support, integral logistic support, training, supply of spare parts and additional transport material, and the purchase of a firefighting system and a passenger transport module, and administrative costs of the Italian Defence Ministry, which totals €128.9 million excluding VAT.
The first aircraft is currently in the course of obtaining the required certificates and should arrive in Slovenia in December, while the other one is expected a year later.
