LIMA,PERÚ-MARZO 27. El Ministro de Defensa, Pedro Cateriano, y su homologa de Defensa de Italia, Roberta Pinotti, entregan el primer avión C-27j Spartan de los cuatro adquiridos por la FAP a Italia.Foto: ANDINA/Oscar Farje Gomero.
Peru’s Minister of Defense, Pedro Cateriano, highlighted the acquisition of two Italian C-27J Spartan aircrafts, which represent a radical change in Peru’s Air Force (FAP) material.
“The total investment was US$119 million and includes training, technological transfer and spare parts. These aircrafts are completely modern and have been a radical change in the equipment of the Air Force,” he underlined.
Minister Cateriano received the first of four C-27J Spartan units –acquired by Peru’s Air Force from Italian aircraft builder Alenia Aermacchi– which have a carrying capacity of 60 troops.
The second unit will arrive in May this year, and additional two such aircrafts –to be supplied under the terms of the second contract– will be delivered between next year and the beginning of 2017.
The delivery ceremony took place at La Palmas Air Base in the presence of Italian Defense Minister Roberta Pinotti, Alenia Aermacchi CEO Giusseppi Giordo and high-ranking civil and military authorities of Peru.
The C-27J Spartan will be used as a working tool along the country’s rough geography for water transport missions, humanitarian aid, firefighting, internal security, search and rescue operations and in response to natural disasters, as well as other missions in support of the community.
According to Cateriano, Italian Defense Minister sees this acquisition as an “important agreement between the Italy and Peru,” because the next step will be to establish a maintenance plant for these aircrafts.
Cateriano suggested the possibility of a Peru-Italy co-production of another type of material in the Defense field with technological transfer.
He explained his portfolio has succeeded in achieving objectives set to upgrade the country’s military material in accordance with its economic situation.
(END) MDV/FHG/RMB/MVB
Published: 3/27/2015