Spanish army orders 16 Airbus C295s for nearly 1.7 billion euros

“These planes will be entirely designed and manufactured in Spain,” declared the general director of the Airbus branch responsible for defence and space activities.

The European aeronautical group Airbus announced on December 20 that it would build in Spain 16 Airbus C295 planes ordered by the Spanish Ministry of Defense for an amount of 1.695 billion euros, News in France reports.

“These planes will be entirely designed and manufactured in Spain“, declared the general director of the Airbus branch responsible for defence and space activities, Mike Schoellhorn, quoted in a press release from the group.

These devices will be enabled in the Airbus Defense and Space facilities located in Seville, the manufacturer said. They must allow “strengthen anti-submarine warfare capabilities» of the navy and the air force, as well as their capabilities in terms of “surveillance, reconnaissance, search and rescue”, according to the press release.

In maritime patrol configuration, the C295 will be “equipped to carry out anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions“. It will also be able to carry weapons such as torpedoes.

In maritime surveillance configuration, the aircraft will be able to carry out “maritime and land operations, such as operations against smuggling, illegal immigration and drug trafficking, as well as national and international search and rescue missions“. The Spanish army, says Airbus, already has a fleet of 13 Airbus C295s in transport configuration.