Boeing, Alenia split on C-27J JCA

Boeing and Alenia Aeronautica have terminated all discussion about cooperating on the U.S. C-27J Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA).

The two companies have been in talks for 2.5 years to come to an industrial partnering agreement and parted ways last year, only to return to the bargaining table. But this time the separation is final, say representatives for both companies.

L-3 is the prime contractor for the program, but Boeing and Alenia were in talks to create a 60/40 joint venture for the final assembly facility. Now, all discussions have ceased, the representatives say.

The change in strategy is being blamed on the general economic conditions. "It was not about the team, it was not about the airplane," says a Boeing official. The two companies also were able to navigate problems around the dollar-euro exchange rate.

Boeing says it is no longer interested in getting into the small airlifter market, instead focusing its efforts in the "mobility" sector on the C-17 strategic airlifter.

Alenia North America officials insist the turn of events is not affecting JCA plans. The design for the final assembly site at Cecil Field in Jacksonville, Fla., is now frozen, and site clearance should commence next week. The first U.S.-assembled JCA is due to come of the production line in late summer or early fall of 2011, a year later than first planned. Alenia says it is spending around $100 million on developing the Jacksonville facility. The first JCAs come off Alenia's final assembly line in Italy.

Photo: Alenia Aeronautica