USN to contract two USMC Clipper liaison aircraft by mid-2019

The US Navy is to award a contract for two Boeing C-40A Clipper liaison aircraft for the US Marine Corps (USMC) in the first half of this year.

The USMC is to receive two Boeing C-40A Clipper liaison aircraft (seen here in US Navy service) to replace the two C-9B Skytrain IIs it retired in 2014. (US Navy)

A replacement requirement document release by the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) on 7 March notes that the service intends to release a formal solicitation on 29 March for the two new-build or pre-owned 737-700C passenger and cargo aircraft that will replace the USMC’s two McDonnell Douglas C-9B Skytrain II airliners previously flown and retired in 2014. A contract will then be awarded by 28 June.

As noted by the NAVAIR Tactical Airlift Program Office, the two 737-700C airliners will be delivered in a ‘combi-convertible’ configuration that enables the aircraft to be configured for all-passenger (121 persons), all-cargo (36,000 lb [16,330 kg] across eight 463L pallets), or a combination of passengers and cargo fits. They will also be equipped with USMC or US Navy (USN) unique avionics equipment.

NAVAIR did not say when the aircraft might be delivered, and, while it did not give a proposed contract value, the USMC’s budget request from 2017 put the value at USD207.5 million.

Once in service the two USMC Clippers will join the 15 such aircraft already fielded by the USN for a combined fleet of 17. The C-40A is used primarily to move ship crew and cargo from the US to forward locations. The Clipper can cover 3,200 n miles with 121 passengers or 16,330 kg of cargo (or 70 passengers over the same distance with 6,800 kg of cargo).