Alenia Aermacchi MC-27J Praetorian

[Nicholas_Concu 2,634]

General Info
In Italy there was a need for a reliable gunship that would be able to engage targets similarly to the American AC-130, which is famous around the world for being one of the best close air support aircraft out there. Italy's Leonardo put up the Alenia Aermacchi division they acquired a few years prior to develop the MC-27J, which would be a multi-mission aircraft based on the C-27J tactical transport. For this task they created a partnership with the American company known as ATK, who would provide assistance with their palletized weapon systems, or as others call it a Roll on/Roll off weapons system.  Its history began in 2013 when the first airframes of the the Alenia C-27 were used with the help of the USAF for the first study phase, which lead to the first buyer of the vehicle being the Italian air force in 2014. Italy is one of only in Europe to posses an Aircraft gunship of this type, and only a few more countries outside Europe have also decided to implement something similar in their respective armies, which include but aren't limited to, The USA, Columbia, and Jordan. The aircraft is currently in service and is on phase 2, so far there's 3 phases planned. In phase 2 the distinct ATK GAU-23 30mm cannon has been successfully installed and is currently in full time active service inside of the Italian air force. What makes this vehicle so versatile is that it only taken 4 hours to actually get up and running with the armaments and equipment to actually utilize it, this is because of previously mentioned palletized way of actually configuring the aircraft to the offensive role. Why this is important to note is because of how usually it could take days to actually modify an aircraft to such a configuration, but instead thanks to the compact design its ready in 4 hours. Now lets talk a little more about the actual armaments and possibile future armaments that are currently under development for this aircraft. First and foremost its primary armament consists of the PaWS (palletized weapon system) ATK GAU-23 30mm cannon, which provides the combat capability for this aircraft, which is specifically designed for this aircraft. It can utilize a multitude of guided and unguided munitions, these include the PGU-13, PGU-15, and PGU-46 ammunition at a rate of 200 rounds a minute. The firing mechanism is done by feeding the ammunition to the gun through a dual feed system. Other Armaments where shown off inside of the Balt Military Expo in 2018, which showed in forms of a model that the aircraft could also been used in the Naval theater of actions by equipping x2 MBDA MARTE ER anti-ship missiles (although if wanted could go up to x4) and also x2 MU90 torpedoes (although if wanted could go up to x4). There were 6 openings for x60 Sonobuyos that could be dropped. One of the main countries looking for this aircraft would be Poland but nothing has been finalized yet. In Phase 3, which is currently under development, it aims to arm the aircraft with a Griffin missile launcher and be equipped with Viper strike bombs. In terms of the avionics, sensors and more, most are state of the art, for example the aircraft is equipped with electro-optical / infrared targeting sensors, modern command, control and communications equipment, alongside also having 2 Rolls-Royce AE2100D2A turboprop engines, allowing it to gain a max speed of 602km per hour.
Armaments and Equipment
ATK GAU-23 30mm cannon (PGU-13, PGU-15, and PGU-46 ammunition)
x60 Sonobuyos
x2 or x4 MBDA MARTE ER anti-ship missiles
x2 or x4 MU90 torpedoes
Raytheon Griffin missile launcher (Under development, phase 3)
Northrop Grumman GBU-44/B Viper Strike bombs (Under development, phase 3)
Night and Thermal Vision
Radar
Specifications


Why it should be in game
I think it should be in game due to how unique it would be inside the Italian tech tree to have an actual gunship able to engage ground targets while keeping its distance on the battlefield. It wouldn't be OP since its a giant target and even a simple atgm, or a strafe from a jet or helicopter would most likely take it down. The weapons it has would make it perfect for Ground RB and Naval. This addition would allow Italy to have a unique aircraft that could work also during night battles, and the aircraft also gets thermals so it would spot targets more easily. This although nothing to do with, would possibly allow America to get their version in terms of the AC-130 gunship.
Sources
https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/naval-exhibitions/2018/balt-military-expo-2018/6307-balt-military-expo-2018-leonardo-unveils-mpa-variant-of-the-mc-27j-isr.html
https://www.airforce-technology.com/projects/mc27j-multimission-aircraft-italy/
https://www.leonardocompany.com/it/products/mc-27j
https://www.leonardocompany.com/en/products/mc-27j
https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2014-04-29/alenia-flies-full-spec-mc-27j
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alenia_C-27J_Spartan
http://coseconleali.medalp.eu/mc-27j-test-results/
https://thaimilitaryandasianregion.wordpress.com/2016/01/19/mc-27j-atk-developed-with-airframer-alenia-aermacchi/

Pictures

[TerikG2014 1,389]

Open For Discussion 

[ThedepthPunisher 194]

interesting! why not! he could bring some new things to the game and could be fun to play but we’d have to find the right br so that he doesn’t get too destroyed too fast by the jets. 

[Nicholas_Concu 2,634]

44 minutes ago, TerikG2014 said:

Open For Discussion 

Thanks!

[angelomorte 1,369]

I just worry about how this would face heli's which could shoot it down instantly .

[Nicholas_Concu 2,634]

7 minutes ago, angelomorte said:

I just worry about how this would face heli's which could shoot it down instantly .

I mean I did mention how it wouldn’t be OP, it would be a high risk high reward vehicle if added. It would be very potent in night maps where not many people would be able to spot it but other than that In normal games as long as it keeps it’s distance and a high altitude it can prove to be effective imo. 

[angelomorte 1,369]

4 minutes ago, Nicholas_Concu said:

I mean I did mention how it wouldn’t be OP, it would be a high risk high reward vehicle if added. It would be very potent in night maps where not many people would be able to spot it but other than that In normal games as long as it keeps it’s distance and a high altitude it can prove to be effective imo. 

yeah but ir lock on and raadar

[Conte_Baracca 4,547]

Cool plane.  Not right for war thunder right now.  Nice post though Nicho.

[angelomorte 1,369]

5 minutes ago, Conte_Baracca said:

Cool plane.  Not right for war thunder right now.  Nice post though Nicho.

i mean if we cant get fc20 or any of the other attackers sadly this IS hopefull but i'd like to see it at somepoint.

[ironcell26 252]

+1, it's just a modern duck that shoots from the side, don't see any problem here.
America's gunships from the vietnam war awakens: allow us to introduce ourselfs...

[_Pixy 196]

+1

[mc205v 786]

+1 does not carry air-to-air missiles and does not have adequate defensive armament, cannot fight helicopters or jets, would be good at BR 5.0 / 5.3

[Nostadad 428]

WHAT XD (I Voted YES!)

[Potatoman530 31]

This would be a fun little meme vehicle 

[Z3r0_ 4,128]

Here's my one issue with planes like this (such as the AC-47 and AC-130): the difficulty of flying and aiming the guns at the same time.  These planes are meant to orbit a target and shoot at them with side-mounted weapons - try doing that in a bomber in-game while shooting a ground target with your turrets, not so easy, is it?  Maybe they could add an toggleable autopilot that'll fly the plane in a circle for you while you operate the weaponry in gunner view or something like that.

Edited November 27, 2020 by Z3r0_

[SylvesterSly 38]

1+ 
God yessss
i would love this. i don't care if i'd get shot down in fights or some ****. i would love to dunk on some Radar SPAA while im flying xxxx high up above it's radar cone. 
yes pleeeeease god. I want fun stuff for italy

[Pippi96 17]

+1 I don’t care if it won’t be meta, being able to fire AP incendiary, high explosives and gpu15 AP rounds makes me want this so bad.. it should also fire similar ammunition to both the Apache and A10 30mm so this means at least 50mm on the HEI/AP are ensured.. give me the mayhem I deserve hehe

[Marcus00invictus@psn 6]

It won't be exceptional due to the amount of non ai sam and spaags in rb but it will be definitely fun in sb!

Moreover it's unique and cool +1

[SturmWerwolf 793]

+1 Definitely. This is the C-27J Spartan in US service, both the US Air Force and US Coast Guard have versions of this plane. 

[AVROVULCANXH558 349]

+1, although it would be 10.0+ with those missiles. Maybe with bigger maps and a forward air spawn, aircraft of this type could work.

[rn_s25 75]

Would be a really unique gameplay style for cas enthuasiasts 

[IngegnerMacchi 623]

This would be a very cool addition, i'd love It! +1

[magicman2468@psn 78]

I think this could be a unique edition, you would have a plane with a gunner view like helicopters gunner sight.

[Fireraid233 4,274]

+1 very interesting 

[ThunderFla 291]

+1 I would really love to see this aircraft in game!