The Spanish Ministry of Defence (MoD) has ordered 16 Airbus C295 aircraft in maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) and maritime surveillance aircraft (MSA) configurations, Airbus announced on 20 December 2023.
The contract for the C295s, according to Airbus, is worth EUR 1.695 Bn.
The new aircraft will be used to strengthen the anti-submarine warfare capabilities of the Spanish Air and Space Force and the Spanish Navy as well as increasing and enhancing their surveillance, reconnaissance and search-and-rescue (SAR) capabilities.
An Airbus spokesperson responding to ESD on 3 January 2023 declined to specify the split between the MPA and MSA configurations between the 16 C295s being procured.
“The aircraft will be fully designed and manufactured in Spain, fostering the national industrial defence footprint and sovereignty,” Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, was quoted as saying in a company press release. “In particular, the Maritime Patrol version is the most complex C295 mission configuration to date: a major development project that will bring together the latest technologies to provide an operational advantage to our customer.”
The contract also covers training systems, including a full flight simulator and mission system simulator, as well as an initial logistics support package.
The C295 MPA will conduct the missions previously performed by the Spanish Air and Space Force’s three P-3M Orion MPAs, which were retired at the end of 2022. Armed with torpedoes and other weapons, the type will be equipped to carry out anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare as well as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
The C295 MPA will be highly connected and will be able to operate in a collaborative mode with other platforms in different domains. The aircraft can become a flying command-and-control centre, providing the Spanish armed forces with the versatility to carry out a wide range of missions, according to Airbus.
The C295 MSA is the natural replacement for the Spanish Air and Space Force’s fleet of eight CN-235 VIGMA aircraft, which have been in service since 2008. It will be primarily equipped for maritime and overland operations such as anti-smuggling, anti-illegal immigration and anti-drug trafficking operations, as well as national and international SAR missions.
There will be a high degree of synergy between both configurations. The Spanish Air and Space Force also operates a fleet of 13 Airbus C295s in a transport configuration.
The aircraft will be assembled at Airbus’ military facilities in Seville.
