replace two veterans and harmonize the fleets
Spain continues the process of renewal of your military transport with the progressive departure of two aircraft that have been in service for decades. He CN235 and the C212 They have been common pieces in training and support tasks, especially in the training of pilots and paratroopers. The Ministry of Defense has formalized the acquisition of 18 Airbus C295 aircraft. This is a contract that is divided into two different phases and establishes a delivery schedule spread over several years. The incorporation of these aircraft will be used to instruction and support functions within the Air and Space Army. All this within a program aimed at harmonizing fleets and achieving maximum “logistical and operational commonality” with the C295 that Spain already operates. Two veterans leave the scene and the C295 takes over with a calendar The agreement is structured into two groups of aircraft with different tasks. The first will be assigned to the Military Air Transport School, at the Matacán base, in Salamanca, where it will assume tasks of training and transporting passengers, paratroopers and cargo, functions that currently fall to CN235 aircraft. If we talk about the second group, this will be destined for the Military Parachuting School, at the Alcantarilla base, in Murcia, and will be used in manual and automatic launches of paratroopers and cargo, missions that today are carried out with C212. The schedule establishes a staggered deployment. According to Airbusthe aircraft of the first batch will begin to arrive in 2026 and will be completed in 2028, while the second group will be delivered later, between 2030 and 2032. This scheme spreads the baton over several years and sets the pace of incorporation of the new aircraft in the two schools involved. Airbus C295 In transport configuration, the C295 offers a profile adjusted to the tasks that these units will assume. Can carry up to 70 troops or 50 paratroopersoperate from unprepared runways and carry out cargo and personnel launches, as well as medical evacuation missions. Where do these capabilities fit? Precisely in continuous use in schools, where flexibility and availability outweigh extreme performance. The aircraft is designed for intensive flight cycles and to operate in diverse environments, a relevant factor in training tasks. Airbus C-212 Aviocar The agreement includes a training and support package designed to sustain the schools’ activity for years. Airbus will supply an advanced system of ground training which combines flight simulators, computer-assisted teaching and training management software, adapted to the needs of each center. Airbus explains that this set is designed to maximize the efficiency of training flights. The training will be deployed both at the Military Air Transport School in Salamanca and at the Parachuting School in Murcia. Airbus CN-235 The contract also contemplates a long-term support framework for the fleet destined for the Military Air Transport School. Airbus will take care of the aircraft maintenancethe management of the necessary material and the associated training center itself, with a horizon that extends until December 2032. With this acquisition, the Air and Space Army will operate a fleet of 46 C295s in different configurations. Spain, let us remember, was the model’s first customer: acquired nine aircraft in 1999 and received the first in 2000. The program also has a direct industrial dimension in Spain. The design and engineering work of the C295 is being developed at the Airbus facilities in Getafewhile the final assembly of the aircraft is carried out at the San Pablo Sur plant, in Seville. According to the manufacturer, this industrial chain supports both production, maintenance and training associated with the model. The fleet replacement thus supports a national aeronautical fabric, closing the circle between operation, support and industry. Images | Airbus | Air Force In Xataka | Spain already has its first A330 MRTT: this is the modern tanker plane that promises to change the rules of the game in the air
