The Royal Australian Air Force has received the first of 10 C-27J Spartan tactical medium-loft transport aircraft from Alenia Aermacchi.

The aircraft was received in a special ceremony at RAAF Base Richmond, the base in New South Wales that will be one of two homes for Australia's Spartan fleet.

"The aircraft will complement the capabilities of the C-130J Hercules and C-17A Globemaster and will be able to carry medium-sized loads and access smaller runways that are not suited to other aircraft," said Air Marshal Geoff Brown, Chief of the Air Force. "This will allow Air Force to support humanitarian missions as well as battlefield airlift in remote locations and unprepared airstrips common in Australia's region.

"Under Plan Jericho, the plan to transform Air Force into a 5th generation fighting force for the information age, the C-27J will operate within an integrated system that is more agile, has an extended reach and gathers and distributes information quicker and more efficiently than ever before."

The C-27J has a top speed of 374 miles per hour and a range of 1,151 miles with 22,000 pounds of payload. It features missile warning systems, electronic self-protection, secure communications and battlefield armor.

The RAAF expects the C-27J fleet to gain Initial Operational Capability late next year.