Air Mobility Plan, 2008 - The Black Vault

C-27J Roadmap
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C-27J Roadmap
OPR: AMC/A5Q
Weapon System Assessment
The Army’s new Concept of Operations (CONOPS) for smaller, dispersed operations over greater
tactical and operational distances gave rise to the Army Future Cargo Aircraft (FCA) program. The
FCA was originated to extend the reach of the current C-23 Sherpa fleet and provide compatible
transload capability to the CH-47 Chinook. Under Program Decision Memorandum-III in December
2005, the Air Force joined the Army in this endeavor, giving birth to the Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA)
program. In June 2006, the Air Force and Army Vice Chiefs signed a memorandum of agreement
(MOA) in which the AF accepted the key performance parameters (KPPs) in the Army’s capability
development document (CDD); both Services would fly the same aircraft. Additionally, the Air Force
commenced analysis with RAND to help quantify the Air Force requirement for JCA under the broader
Air Force mission as DOD’s provider of intratheater airlift. As a Joint platform, JCA will replace
several less-capable Army platforms (i.e., C-23, C-26, and C-12) and will complement existing Air
Force capability by adding a more efficient means to move small payloads, shorter distances, into
austere locations.
The Army and Air Force jointly selected the C-27J
to meet JCA requirements for a light, intratheater
airlift capability in support of numerous
wartime and peacetime missions in the midst of
catastrophic, traditional, disruptive, and irregular
challenges. The C-27J will meet JCA payload
requirements of three 463L pallets weighing
18,000 pounds. Like the current intratheater fleet
of C-130s, the C-27J will possess airdrop and
short-, austere-airfield capability and will be able
to self-deploy. The C-27J provides the Army
with a much more capable platform over the
C-23, and it gives the AF an efficient tool to
deliver smaller loads down to the “last tactical
mile” within the Joint operations area (JOA). This aircraft will complement larger intratheater mobility
aircraft performing similar missions. These missions include airdrop and airland delivery, casualty and
aeromedical evacuation, combat support, and forward arming and refueling point (FARP) operations.
Light intratheater airlift could be especially beneficial in countering growing irregular challenges.
Terrorism, insurgencies, and civil war nullify many of the asymmetric air and space advantages the
United States maintains over other nations and result in further dispersion of combat forces. In fact,
the most effective airpower operations, when facing irregular challenges may be support missions such
as transport, reconnaissance, and resupply. Furthermore, since these irregular challenges will likely
erupt in second- and third-world countries with limited infrastructure, the aircraft’s austere, short-field
capabilities along with its small footprint could be especially useful in future warfare scenarios.
In addition to major combat operations (MCO) support,
this aircraft will complement Homeland Security mobility
operations moving quick-reaction forces and first
responders for national emergencies and natural disasters.
The C-27J will be able to support peacetime missions such
as CONUS distribution process support, Joint Airborne/
Air Transportability Training (JA/ATT), Joint Chiefs of
Staff (JCS) exercises, opportune aeromedical evacuation,
humanitarian airlift, and operational support airlift.
OCT 07