Spain Orders 18 C295 Aircraft from Airbus to Renew its Transport Fleet
The Spanish Ministry of Defense has acquired 18 C295 transport aircraft from Airbus, according to a statement released on Monday. These aircraft will replace the CN235 and C212 fleets used for training pilots and paratroopers of the Spanish Air and Space Force.
Fleet Harmonization Strategy
The acquisition of these 18 C295s is part of a strategy to harmonize fleets, the group indicates. The stated goal is to achieve maximum logistical and operational commonality with the C295s currently in service in Spain. According to Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space, quoted in the statement, this contract will bring the total number of C295s operated by the Spanish Air and Space Force to 46, including configurations for transport, patrol, and maritime surveillance. The C295s in transport configuration can carry 70 soldiers or 50 paratroopers, take off and land on unprepared runways, perform cargo and paratrooper drops, as well as medical evacuations, the document specifies.
Contract Divided into Two Distinct Groups
The contract is divided into two distinct groups to meet the specific needs of the Spanish army, according to the statement. The first batch of C295s will be assigned to teaching and transporting passengers, paratroopers, and cargo at the air transport military school at Matacán Air Base in Salamanca. These missions are currently carried out by CN235s. Deliveries of the first group will be spread between 2026 and 2028, with the first aircraft to be delivered in 2026 and the last in 2028. The second group will be used for manual and automatic parachute drops, as well as cargo drops, at the military parachuting school at Alcantarilla Air Base in Murcia. These missions are currently performed with C212s. Deliveries of the second lot are scheduled between 2030 and 2032, according to the group.
Advanced Ground Training System Included
The agreement also includes the provision of an advanced ground training system, designed according to the client's needs to maximize the efficiency of training flights, the statement indicates. This system includes several flight simulators, computer-assisted teaching systems, and a training management software intended for the air transport school in Salamanca and the parachuting school in Murcia. Furthermore, the contract provides comprehensive support for the C295 fleet at the air transport school, including aircraft maintenance, management of all necessary materials, and management of the training center until December 2032. According to the document, the C295 has accumulated 329 orders from 38 countries across four continents and has more than 710,000 flight hours. The aircraft is assembled at the Airbus Defence and Space facilities in Seville, Spain.
