Paul: Did some research,and while the C-27 is an update of an (relatively) older G222 but is far from “old”. In fact its a spring chicken when comapared to the C-5 and the C-130, since its really only been produced in the last 10 or so years.

Zippo: it was an Italian/American cooperative project, originally with Lockheed-martin and then (IIRC) Boing.

In a nutshell its a smaller, but more up to date version of the C-130 that can land places the C-130 cant. Its also suppsed to be a better fit for AC/Gunship/close air support ops in theater than the AC-130 because of this . Since it can land at even smaller airstrips than the AC-130, it can be staged closer to the action, and therefore have a shorter response time when needed.

64.01% : Now Im not an expert on fire supression using aviation assets like the C-130, but since it uses the same loading system the C-130 does, and the fire suppression system they use is a pallet-loaded drop in module, it may also be able to fight fires! I dont know though. I seriously doubt we would see many of them doing firefighting in in the first few years of production due to other more specific needs over in the sand box. Thats just my guess.

The cost of that deployement has to be hundreds of millions. I say more predators and raptors.