The Spanish Ministry of Defence has signed a contract for the acquisition of 18 new C295 transport aircraft from Airbus, launching the gradual replacement of the ageing CN235 and C212 fleets used for pilot and paratrooper training within the Spanish Air and Space Force. The decision represents a continuation of long-standing cooperation and a clear move toward further standardisation and simplified logistics across Spain’s air forces.
The programme’s objective is to harmonise fleets and achieve maximum logistical and operational commonality with the C295 aircraft already in Spanish service. Once the contract is fully implemented, the Spanish Air and Space Force will operate a total of 46 C295s in transport, maritime patrol, surveillance and reconnaissance configurations. According to Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space, the new order further strengthens Spain’s strategic autonomy and sovereignty while simultaneously boosting the national aeronautical industry and the wider industrial ecosystem.
In its transport configuration, the C295 can carry up to 70 troops or 50 paratroopers and is designed to operate from unprepared runways. The aircraft is capable of performing cargo and paratrooper drops as well as medical evacuation missions, making it a highly versatile platform for a broad range of military tasks.
The contract is structured in two phases to meet the specific requirements of the Spanish Air and Space Force. The first batch will be dedicated to training and the transport of passengers, paratroopers and cargo at the Military Air Transport School at Matacán Air Base near Salamanca, where it will replace the CN235. Deliveries of the first aircraft are scheduled to begin in 2026, with completion by 2028. The second batch will be configured for manual and automatic paratrooper drops and cargo drops, with deliveries planned between 2030 and 2032. These aircraft will take over missions currently carried out at the Military Parachuting School at Alcantarilla Air Base in Murcia, where C212 aircraft are still in use.
Beyond the aircraft themselves, the agreement includes a comprehensive integrated training and fleet support package. This comprises an advanced ground-based training system tailored to customer requirements, featuring multiple flight simulators, computer-aided teaching systems and training management software for the schools in Salamanca and Murcia. The contract also covers full support for the C295 fleet at the Military Air Transport School, including aircraft maintenance, management of all required materials and operation of the training centre through to December 2032.
The C295 is regarded as the undisputed leader in its segment, with 329 orders from 38 countries across four continents and more than 710,000 flight hours accumulated. All aircraft are assembled at Airbus Defence and Space facilities in Seville, underlining Spain’s role as a key hub of the European military aerospace industry.
