Alenia Aeronautica delivered the first C-27J Spartan to the Bulgarian Air Force, the company announced on November 17th, 2007. Bulgaria ordered five C-27Js in 2006 to replace the air force's current transport fleet of Antonov An-26s.

The plane landed in Bulgaria's capital, Sofia, a week earlier but only to be detained by the country's customs agency that claimed that Alenia owed taxes for the jet parts produced in the US and refused to release the aircraft until they were paid. The misunderstanding was caused by the "unclear wording" of the contract clauses, according to sources.

The first C-27J was delivered in basic configuration with some equipment not yet installed, including the cargo winch, digital map display and night vision equipment. It can start operations with the air force in the current configuration until spring 2008, when the equipment will be installed, officials said earlier.