The Spanish Air Force will retire its CN235 and C212 Aviocar aircraft with 18 new C295s

The oldest tactical transport aircraft of the Spanish Air Force finally have a confirmed replacement: the one that was expected.

Spanish Air Force will receive 16 C295W MPA/MSA: this is how these aircraft are for maritime missions
This is how a Spanish C-295 military aircraft from the 35th Wing prepares for takeoff

This Christmas it seems Airbus has hit the jackpot in Spain. Following the announcement of the purchase of 100 helicopters for the Spanish Armed Forces last week, the European aerospace company published another announcement this Tuesday: the purchase of 18 C295 transport aircraft for the Spanish Air Force.

"The Spanish Ministry of Defence has acquired 18 Airbus C295 transport aircraft to replace the CN235 and C212 fleets dedicated to the training of pilots and paratroopers of the Spanish Air and Space Force.," states the press release published by Airbus this afternoon. "The objective of this programme is to harmonise fleets and achieve maximum logistical and operational commonality with the C295 fleet currently operated by Spain."

Airbus comments on this order as follows: "To meet the specific requirements of the Spanish Air and Space Force, the agreement is divided into two batches. The first group of C295s will be dedicated to training and the transport of passengers, paratroopers, and cargo at the Military Air Transport School at Matacán Air Base in Salamanca. These tasks are currently performed by CN235 aircraft. The first of these aircraft will be delivered in 2026 and the last in 2028."

The Airbus statement adds: "The second group of C295s will be used for manual and automatic paratrooper drops, as well as cargo drops, with deliveries scheduled between 2030 and 2032. Currently, these tasks are carried out at the Military Parachuting School at Alcantarilla Air Base in Murcia, using C212 aircraft."

Currently, the Spanish Air Force still has 16 CN-235s in service: 8 of the tactical transport variant with the Matacán Training Group (GRUEMA) and 8 of the VIGMA (maritime surveillance) version with Wings 46, 48, and 49. In addition, there are 10 C212 Aviocars still in service with the 721 Squadron, primarily used for paratrooper training at the "Méndez Parada" Military Parachute School. It is assumed that once replaced by the C295, the CN235s of GRUEMA will temporarily replace the C212s of the 721 Squadron, as these aircraft have more years of service.

The Spanish Air Force already has 12 C295 tactical transport aircraft, operated by Wing 35 from Getafe Air Base (Madrid). In addition, Spain has acquired 16 C296s for maritime patrol and surveillance: 8 C295W MPA maritime patrol aircraft (to replace the retired P-3 Orions) and 8 C295W MSA maritime surveillance aircraft (to replace the CN235 VIGMAs). With the 18 C295s announced today, the Spanish fleet of this model will increase to 46 aircraft. Currently, the largest customer for the C295 is India, which has acquired 56 aircraft, which are in the process of being delivered.

Airbus notes that the C295 in transport configuration has the capacity to carry 70 soldiers or 50 paratroopers, "take off and land on unprepared runways, perform cargo and paratrooper drops, as well as perform medical evacuation." This model has already accumulated 329 orders from 38 countries on four continents and more than 710,000 flight hours. Like the A400M Atlas, the C295 —originally manufactured by the Spanish company CASA— is assembled at the Airbus factory in Seville.

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Photos: Ejército del Aire.