Saudi’s Aramco Becomes First Civil C-27J Customer

c27j doing fire fighting
Credit: Leonardo

LE BOURGET—Saudi Arabian oil company Aramco has become the first commercial customer for Leonardo’s C-27J airlifter, planning to acquire two for firefighting and oil spill response.

Two C-27Js will be delivered in 2027 to Mukamalah Aviation Company, an Aramco-owned operator that flies under the brand name Aloula Aviation.

Mukamalah will become the 20th C-27J operator and the first customer of the C-27/G.222 family of aircraft. The C-27J is derived from the Aeritalia G.222, which first flew in 1970.

As part of an effort to widen the twin-turboprop airlifter’s appeal, Leonardo has developed a roll-on, roll-off firefighting capability using the palletized United Aeronautical Corporation’s Modular Aerial Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS) 2. The company worked on development of the firefighting capability throughout 2024 and expects certification in 2026.

The first customer for the firefighting capability was the Slovenian Air Force.

Aloula operates Aramco’s fleet of Boeing 737s, Beechcraft business jets and turboprops, and Air Tractor AT-802 aircraft, which are also used for firefighting.

Leonardo already has close links with Aramco as a supplier of helicopters to the company to support its operation throughout Saudi Arabia. The company says the purchase will also “strengthen the role of the C-27J in the Middle East.” The type has, until now, failed to penetrate the Middle Eastern military market, although has had extensive success in Africa.

Tony Osborne

Based in London, Tony covers European defense programs. Prior to joining Aviation Week in November 2012, Tony was at Shephard Media Group where he was deputy editor for Rotorhub and Defence Helicopter magazines.