Alenia Aermacchi has completed the assembly of the first C-27J battlefield airlifter for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). At the company’s Turin plant, the aircraft’s wing was mated with the fuselage and the engines, landing gear, and other major components were installed. The aircraft is currently undergoing equipment installation and functional tests in preparation for the test flight phase. Roll out and company flights will occur within November, and customer acceptance tests and procedures will follow shortly.

Alenia Aermacchi is providing the C-27J to prime contractor L-3 Communications, in support of a U.S. Air Force Foreign Military Sale to Australia. The first aircraft is expected to be delivered to L-3 in the first quarter of 2014, on time and on budget.

The aircraft’s fuselage is produced in the company’s Naples plant. The other aircraft’s components come from several national and international program partners.

Alenia Aermacchi is currently under contract to deliver 10 C-27J battlefield airlifters by 2015 to the prime contractor.