Saudi Arabia to Acquire Four Leonardo-built C-27J MPA Aircraft

Our Bureau - : Feb 17, 2026 - : 4:30 am

Leonardo will supply four C-27J Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) to Saudi Arabia, providing the capabilities needed to cope with modern submarine and sea surface threats, to guarantee effective Search and Rescue (SAR) services and to perform transport and airdrop missions....

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Deliveries to the Royal Saudi Naval Forces, which becomes the 21st operator of the type globally, are expected to start in 2029. The contract marks the first time the C-27J MPA is procured with maritime weapon system integration capability.

The Leonardo C-27J Spartan multi-mission tactical transport aircraft has so far accumulated more than 290,000 flight hours worldwide. The recent order increases the number of C-27Js ordered by KSA users, following the acquisition of two units in 2025 dedicated to firefighting, cargo transport and medical evacuation tasks. A further evidence of the platform’s versatility, able to uniquely combine transport, disaster response and multi-domain surveillance capabilities.

C-27J Spartan Next Generation and MPA Variant

The C-27J MPA retains all the features and capabilities of the C-27J Spartan Next Generation platform, including its state-of-the-art avionics, navigation, communication, identification and self-protection systems, enabling seamless, safe and low workload operations in all weather and lighting conditions, both in military and civil controlled airspaces, also in high threat scenarios.

For guaranteeing multi-domain surveillance capabilities, the C-27J MPA integrates a dedicated mission suite, including sensors optimized for detection, identification and tracking of surface and submarine targets, managed by an advanced mission management system (the Leonardo Airborne Tactical Observation and Surveillance system) with data fusion capabilities. A complete communication system allows real time data sharing with control centres and secures cooperation with other units, also in Beyond Line Of Sight (BLOS) conditions. Moreover, in addition to its maritime patrol and surveillance capabilities, the C-27J MPA can carry a significant weapons payload to counter multiple threats, including torpedoes, anti-ship missiles and depth charges in accordance with the specific mission needs.

By removing the mission management system consoles and other components of the mission suite, the C-27J MPA cabin can be easily reconfigured to perform the transport, airdrop and medical evacuation missions typical of the baseline C-27J Spartan Next Generation. C-27Js in their maritime roles are already in service with the US Coast Guard.

C-27j-spartan-next-generation / Leonardo / Saudi-arabia / C-27j-maritime-patrol-aircraft-mpa / Royal-saudi-naval-forces /

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