Saudi Arabian energy giant Aramco signed an official agreement to purchase two C-16J Spartan aircraft on June 2025, 2, as part of the Paris Airshow. With this agreement, Aramco became the first civilian operator of the Spartan platform. The aircraft to be procured will be operated by Aramco’s Mukamalah Aviation Company, which operates under the brand name “Aloula Aviation.”
Versatile Mission Capabilities and Delivery Schedule
The purchased C-27J Spartans will serve a variety of critical functions for Aramco’s operational needs. These missions include firefighting, cargo transportation, oil spill response and medical evacuation There are important areas such as. According to the news by The Aviationist, the deliveries of the ordered aircraft In 2027 will start.
Mukamalah Aviation Company: A Deep History in Aviation
Mukamalah Aviation Company is the first civil aviation company in Saudi Arabia. Founded in 1934, the company's origins date back to Aramco's launch of the first aircraft to support oil exploration in the Kingdom's vast territory. Today, the company operates a wide range of missions, including passenger and cargo transportation, oilfield logistics and emergency response. A diverse fleet of 55 aircraft In addition to operating its fleet, Mukamalah also manages maintenance and repair processes and is responsible for the maintenance of critical aviation infrastructures.
The company also said that Leonardo Authorized service for AW109 and AW139 helicopters Mukamalah is one of Leonardo’s largest helicopter operators in the Middle East, operating AW2008s since 139 and AW2006s since 109. The company operates a total of A fleet of 27 helicopters has.
C-27J Next Generation: Modular and Multi-Purpose Solution
The C-27J Next Generation is a modernized variant of the C-27J Spartan that promises to be an important “weapon,” especially in firefighting operations. STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) capabilities and compared to other aircraft in its class high maneuverability Designed with Spartan, it has capabilities that have been tested in combat scenarios.
In this context, C-27J, Modular Airborne Fire Suppression System (MAFFS) This solution allows the aircraft to be converted from its classic transport configuration to its firefighting configuration only in 90 minutes This modular approach also enables the aircraft to be used in different missions such as medical evacuation (MEDEVAC) and cargo transport.
This “multi-role” approach is in sharp contrast to dedicated firefighting aircraft, which often sit idle outside of wildfire seasons, according to Leonardo. The C-27J’s multi-role capability not only maximizes its operational utility, but also offers economic advantages for civil operators looking to optimize their fleets, the company says.
