Spain’s Ministry of Defence announced the procurement of 18 Airbus C295 military transport aircraft to replace the CN235 and C212 aircraft currently used for pilot and paratrooper training within the Spanish Air and Space Force. The agreement aims to harmonize the fleet and maximize logistical and operational commonality with the existing C295 fleet already in service.
Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space, stated that the order confirms Spain’s strong commitment to the C295 platform, strengthening the country’s strategic autonomy and sovereignty while contributing to the development of the Spanish aerospace industry and its industrial ecosystem. With this acquisition, the Spanish Air and Space Force will operate a total of 46 C295 aircraft across transport, maritime patrol, and surveillance configurations.
In its transport configuration, the C295 can carry 70 troops or 50 paratroopers. The aircraft is capable of operating from unprepared runways and supports cargo and paratrooper airdrop missions as well as medical evacuation operations.
The contract has been structured in two phases to meet the specific needs of the Spanish Air and Space Force. The first batch of C295s will be used at the Military Air Transport School located at Matacán Air Base in Salamanca for passenger, paratrooper, and cargo transport training missions, which are currently performed by CN235 aircraft. The first deliveries are planned for 2026, with final deliveries scheduled for 2028.
The second batch of C295s will be dedicated to manual and automatic paratrooper drops and cargo airdrop missions. Deliveries for this phase are expected between 2030 and 2032. These missions are currently carried out by C212 aircraft operated by the Military Parachute School based at Alcantarilla Air Base in Murcia.
The agreement also includes the procurement of an advanced ground-based training system to improve training efficiency. This package covers flight simulators, computer-based training systems, and training management software for both the Military Air Transport School in Salamanca and the Military Parachute School in Murcia.
Additionally, the contract includes a comprehensive support package valid until December 2032, covering maintenance activities for the C295 fleet, full material management, and the operation of the training center.
To date, the C295 program has received 329 orders from 38 countries, making it the leader in its segment. The aircraft are produced at Airbus Defence and Space facilities in Seville, Spain, and have accumulated over 710,000 flight hours worldwide.
