Italian aerospace and defense group Leonardo said on Monday it has secured an order to supply four C-27J Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) to the Saudi Ministry of Defence, strengthening the Kingdom’s naval surveillance and maritime security capabilities.

The aircraft will be delivered to the Royal Saudi Naval Forces starting in 2029, Leonardo said in a statement, adding that Saudi Arabia will become the 21st operator worldwide of the C-27J platform.

According to the company, the C-27J MPA will provide capabilities to counter modern submarine and surface threats, support search and rescue missions, and carry out transport and airdrop operations. The order follows the acquisition by Saudi users in mid-2025 of two C-27J aircraft configured for firefighting, cargo transport, and medical evacuation, further expanding the Kingdom’s fleet of the type.

Leonardo said the latest deal also marks the first time the C-27J MPA has been procured with integrated maritime weapon systems, allowing the aircraft to carry payloads such as torpedoes, anti-ship missiles, and depth charges depending on mission requirements. The company described this as evidence of the platform’s versatility, combining transport, disaster response, and multi-domain surveillance roles.

The maritime patrol variant is based on the C-27J Spartan Next Generation and retains its advanced avionics, navigation, communication, and self-protection systems, enabling operations in all weather conditions and high-threat environments. For maritime missions, the aircraft is equipped with a dedicated sensor suite and mission management system that allows detection, identification, and tracking of surface and underwater targets, with real-time data sharing, including beyond line-of-sight communication.

Leonardo added that the aircraft can be rapidly reconfigured by removing mission consoles, allowing it to perform standard transport, airdrop, or medical evacuation missions. C-27J aircraft configured for maritime roles are already in service with the US Coast Guard.

The contract underscores Leonardo’s growing defense relationship with Saudi Arabia and comes as Gulf states continue to invest in maritime domain awareness amid heightened regional security demands, a trend closely watched by defense analysts and industry stakeholders.

Source: Leonardo Press Release