Spain is purchasing Airbus C295 aircraft for maritime patrol and surveillance.
The Spanish Ministry of Defence placed an order valued at about $1.86 billion for a fleet of 16 C295 in the Maritime Patrol Aircraft and Maritime Surveillance Aircraft configuration.
The maritime patrol version of the new aircraft is capable of conducting anti-submarine, anti-surface warfare, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. It can serve as a replacement to the P-3 Orion coastal patrol fleet, which the Spanish Air Force retired in 2022.
The C295 aircraft can also transport armaments such as torpedoes.
Meanwhile, the maritime surveillance aircraft configuration can take over the responsibilities of the Spanish Air and Space Force’s fleet of CN-235 VIGMA, in service since 2008. The C295 MSA can carry out search and rescue missions and operations against smuggling and human and drug trafficking activities.
Airbus said the aircraft will be assembled at its military facilities in Seville, Spain.
“The aircraft will be fully designed and manufactured in Spain, fostering the national industrial defense footprint and sovereignty,” said Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space.
The contract also includes purchase of a full flight and mission system simulator for personnel training and logistics support.
