Article Posted on : - Mar 30, 2015

The new C-27J Spartan airlifter of Peru. An Alenia Aermacchi photo

LIMA (BNS): The Peruvian Air Force has received the first of four C-27J Spartan military transport aircraft from Italy's Alenia Aermacchi last week.

The medium tactical airlifter was officially handed over on March 27 during a ceremony held at the Peruvian capital Lima attended by the country's Defence Minister Pedro Cateriano Bellido, Commander in Chief of the Peruvian Air Force Gen. Dante Arevalo Abate and Italian Defence Minister Roberta Pinotti among others.

The new aircraft is part of a contract signed between Alenia Aermacchi and the Peruvian Air Force (FAP) in December 2013.

In December 2014 a second contract was signed for two additional C-27Js, bringing to four the total number of such aircraft ordered by the FAP, Alenia said, adding that the airplanes' deliveries will end in 2017.

The FAP will employ the C-27Js as a strategic asset in passenger and cargo transport, humanitarian, fire-fighting, search and rescue and internal security missions.