L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL), prime contractor for the U.S. Army and Air Force Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) program, announced today that it has presented the first C-27J JCA to the joint program office on schedule and on budget. The aircraft is the first of 78 planned to be delivered to the Department of Defense. The current contract is valued in excess of $2 billion.

“We are very proud to have achieved this critical milestone in meeting our commitment to our customer," said Michael T. Strianese, president and chief executive officer of L-3. “With Alenia, we have consistently performed well throughout all phases of the JCA program, and we look forward to continuing to lead this successful effort.”

“L-3, Alenia Aeronautica and Alenia North America have worked very hard to ensure that we present the C-27J on time to the U.S. Army,” said Pier Francesco Guarguaglini, chairman and CEO of Finmeccanica, parent company to aircraft manufacturer Alenia Aeronautica. “This event demonstrates our group’s capability and our strong commitment to the U.S. market.”

A formal ceremony marking the first aircraft delivery will take place in October at L-3’s facility in Waco, Texas.

The C-27J Spartan was selected in June 2007 as the Joint Cargo Aircraft. The first aircraft arrived at L-3’s Waco facility Aug. 14 from Alenia Aeronautica's Caselle final assembly plant in Turin, Italy to receive unique modifications and testing. The second JCA is currently undergoing testing in Italy and will arrive in Waco in October to be delivered to the customer in November.

The C-27J is a mid-range, multifunctional and interoperable aircraft able to perform logistical re-supply, MEDEVAC, troop movement, airdrop operations, humanitarian assistance and homeland security missions for the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force. The C-27J will replace the U.S. Army’s C-23 Sherpa and portions of the US Army’s C-12 and C-26 fleet. The C-27J will augment the U.S. Air Force’s existing fleet of intra-theater airlifters. The aircraft will play a key role in providing responsive aerial sustainment and critical re-supply support for the maneuver force to maintain operational momentum.

The C-27J Spartan has been in production in Italy since 2001 and has been delivered to Bulgaria, Greece, Italy and Lithuania. It has also been ordered by Romania with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2009.