The acquisition of the second tactical transport aircraft will ensure the continued operational capability of the SAF to provide tactical air transport of SAF personnel and cargo for its own needs, the needs of Slovenia for the transport of people and cargo in the event of natural and other disasters, and to assist in the fighting of wildfires. The two aircraft will thus provide capacity and fill the gaps when one aircraft is unavailable due to maintenance.
Despite a two-year gap since the signing of the Implementing Agreement under which we purchased the first Leonardo C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft, we managed to negotiate a price reduction of almost EUR 3.5 million for the same configuration of the second aircraft. The firefighting and passenger transport modules already purchased will be able to be used interchangeably by both aircraft.
The signed amendment to the Implementing Agreement provides for the purchase of a second Leonardo C-27J aircraft with the same configuration as the first aircraft and including a two-year warranty for a value of EUR 45,408,679.04 exclusive of VAT. The value of the first Leonardo C-27J aircraft, including certification, MEDEVAC standard and special modules, biological decontamination module, ballistic module, and including a two-year warranty, is EUR 48,854,759.25 exclusive of VAT.
In addition to the above costs for the purchase of the first and second aircraft, the costs of ground support equipment, integral logistics support, training, spare parts and additional transport material, and the purchase of a fire fighting system and a passenger transport module must be added. Part of the cost of the purchase of the two aircraft also includes the costs of the Italian Military Aviation Authority and the administrative costs of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Italy for the duration of the Implementing Agreement.
The total cost of the purchase of the two Leonardo C-27J tactical cargo aircraft, including all modules and logistic support, insurance, certification and management costs, amounts to EUR 128,911,575.43 excluding VAT.
The first Leonardo C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft has already been constructed, it is currently undergoing certification, and is expected to arrive in Slovenia in December 2023, and the second one is expected in December 2024.
