On 17 November 2021, the Ministry of Defense concluded an implementation agreement with the Ministry of Defense of the Italian Republic for the purchase of the C-27J Spartan tactical transport aircraft.
The signing of the implementation agreement will enable the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Slovenia to purchase the C-27J aircraft from the Ministry of Defense of the Italian Republic and long-term cooperation with a comprehensive approach to ensuring military air transport capacity with the C-27J aircraft. The value of the signed implementation agreement is approximately EUR 72 million including VAT, with the basic price of the aircraft being EUR 48 million, the price of additional modules (cargo module, passenger transport module, infected persons transport module, transport of slightly and severely injured persons with vital signs monitoring and fire extinguishing module) is € 11 million. The total price also includes logistical support, spare parts, crew training, use of simulators, technical documentation and final certification.
The purchase of a tactical transport aircraft is envisaged in the Resolution on the General Long-Term Program for the Development and Equipping of the Slovenian Armed Forces until 2025 and the Medium-Term Defense Program of the Republic of Slovenia 2018−2023. In order to provide financial resources to the planned extent and according to the planned dynamics for the establishment of the most important military capabilities for performing the tasks of the Slovenian Armed Forces and for participation in the collective defense system, the National Assembly also adopted the Act 2026. As can be seen from the explanatory memorandum to the Act, the Act also provides, inter alia, financial resources for the purchase of a tactical transport aircraft.
The purchase of a tactical transport aircraft is included in the Annual Plan for the Implementation of Investments in the Slovenian Armed Forces on the Basis of the Provision of Funds for Investments in the Slovenian Armed Forces in 2021 to 2026 for 2021, adopted by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia at its 83rd regular session on 24 June. 2021. For the purchase of a tactical transport aircraft, the Ministry of Defense has adequate funding for payments in 2021 and 2022 in the current budget for 2021 and 2022.
The C-27J Spartan aircraft of the Italian company Leonardo is a military transport aircraft that will meet the requirements in the most demanding operating environment in the best relationship between requirements, efficiency, reliability and, above all, a high level of survival.
