Airbus has confirmed that Spain’s Ministry of Defence has placed an order for 18 C295 transport aircraft to replace the Spanish Air and Space Force’s ageing CN235 and C212 fleets used for pilot and paratrooper training. The acquisition reflects a broader push among European air forces to reinforce everyday readiness, including troop mobility, sustainment of airborne units, and resilient training pipelines. In addition to renewing ageing platforms, the programme aims to consolidate Spain’s light tactical transport capability around a single aircraft type, streamlining logistics, maintenance, and operational planning.
Spain has selected the transport variant of Airbus’ twin-turboprop C295 tactical airlifter, a configuration tailored for routine passenger and cargo transport as well as airborne training missions. According to Airbus, the aircraft can carry up to 70 troops or 50 paratroopers, supports cargo and personnel airdrops, and can be configured for medical evacuation. Its ability to operate from short and unprepared runways makes it well suited for dispersed operations and austere training environments. The aircraft offers a payload capacity of up to eight tonnes and is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127G engines, with endurance of up to 13 hours depending on the mission profile, enabling long-duration training sorties and multi-leg transport missions.
The decision also builds on Spain’s existing experience with the C295 and reinforces the aircraft’s domestic industrial footprint. Airbus notes that, once the new aircraft are fully integrated, the Spanish Air and Space Force will operate a total of 46 C295s across transport, maritime patrol, and surveillance roles, underscoring a deliberate move toward a family of variants sharing a common airframe and support architecture. Airbus further highlights the type’s global track record, with more than 710,000 flight hours logged and 329 aircraft ordered by 38 countries. Final assembly of the C295 takes place at Airbus Defence and Space’s facilities in Seville, anchoring the programme within Spain’s national aerospace industry.
Deliveries will be aligned with two dedicated training centres, shaping how the aircraft will be employed operationally. The contract is divided into two batches: the first will be assigned to the Military Air Transport School at Matacán Air Base in Salamanca, where the aircraft will support pilot training and the transport of passengers, paratroopers, and cargo. Deliveries for this batch are scheduled between 2026 and 2028, replacing CN235 aircraft currently in service. The second batch, optimized for manual and automatic paratrooper drops and cargo airdrop missions, will be delivered to the Military Parachuting School at Alcantarilla Air Base in Murcia between 2030 and 2032, replacing the C212 fleet.
