Spain Buys 18 C-295 Military Transport Aircraft From Airbus
Madrid has acquired 18 C-295 tactical transport aircraft from Airbus to replace the Spanish Air and Space Force’s CN-235 and C-212 planes in service since the 1970s.
The purchase is part of the NATO country’s goal to employ a modern, unified fleet for both preparatory and deployment purposes.
This deal will add systems to Spain’s existing C-295s, commissioned since the 1990s, and 16 more ordered in 2023.
Deliveries Through 2030s
Half of the new C-295s will be used for training and troop movement missions currently assigned to the CN-235s at the Military Air Transport School at Matacán Air Base in Salamanca.
Handover for this tranche will be facilitated between 2026 and 2028.
Meanwhile, the second batch will be adopted for manual and automatic drops for paratroopers and cargo being handled by the C-212s at the Military Parachuting School at Alcantarilla Air Base in Murcia.
The military is scheduled to receive these units from 2030 to 2032.
The deliveries cover a ground training package for both sites, incorporating ground fight simulators, computer-based instruction solutions, and related software.
Airbus will also provide sustainment and management services to upkeep the fleet and support associated training projects until 2032.
“This order reaffirms Spain’s commitment to the C295, reinforcing national strategic autonomy and sovereignty while boosting the development of the Spanish aeronautical industry and the entire industrial ecosystem,” said Jean-Brice Dumont, head of air power division at Airbus Defence and Space.
“With this contract, the Spanish Air and Space Force will operate a fleet of 46 C295s in transport, maritime patrol and surveillance configurations.”
The Airbus C295
The C-295 measures 25 meters (82 feet) in length and has a wingspan of 28 meters (92 feet).
It has a fuel capacity of 7,500 liters, a maximum payload capacity of 9,000 kilograms (19,842 pounds), and accommodation for up to 70 people.
The aircraft is equipped with twin Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127G engines with 2,645 horsepower for a speed of 260 knots (482 kilometers/299 miles per hour), a range of 9,145 meters (30,003 feet), and a range of 5,740 kilometers (3,567 miles).
