15:18 GMT, June 19, 2008 The first C-27J for the U.S. Armed Forces has made its maiden flight in Turin-Caselle, at Alenia Aeronautica’s Flight Test Centre.
The first US C-27J will be engaged in a test campaign, envisaging about 70 flight hours and 180 ground-test hours, including those carried out in the United States at L3 Communications, in Waco, Texas, for the integration of avionics and systems, specifically requested by the American customer.

The delivery of the first aircraft to the U.S. Army is foreseen by September 25, 2008.

Last June 2007, Finmeccanica, through Alenia North America (an Alenia Aeronautica’s subsidiary), together with L-3 as prime contractor, had won the US bid for a new tactical transport aircraft for Air Force and Army within the joint JCA (Joint Cargo Aircraft) programme, and had been awarded a contract of $ 2,04 billions for the supply of 78 C-27Js, tactical transport aircraft designed, developed and produced by Alenia Aeronautica, a Finmeccanica company.