EADS CASA C-295

The C-295 is manufactured and assembled in the Airbus Military facilities in the San Pablo Airport, in Seville, Spain. It is a development of the Spanish–Indonesian transport aircraft CASA/IPTN CN-235, but with a stretched fuselage, 50% more payload capability and new Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127G turboprop engines. The C-295 made its maiden flight in 1998. The first order came from the Spanish Air Force.

In 2012, Airbus Military announced several enhancements to the base C-295 design, changes included the adoption of winglets and an ability to carry the Marte anti-ship missile; a dedicated airborne early warning and control variant was also planned.[3] In November 2015, a C-295 successfully demonstrated a new self-protection suite, which incorporated elements such as directional infrared countermeasures from Elbit Systems and infrared passive airborne warning system.[4] In January 2016, Airbus was in the process of developing a new probe-and-drogue aerial refuelling rig to be optionally installed in the centerline of the C295 for the aerial refuelling of combat helicopters. Initial 'dry' flight tests are scheduled later in the year. Airbus is also performing flap optimisations and other modifications upon the type for extremely short takeoff and landing capabilities.[5]

The C-295's main competitor is the C-27J Spartan, manufactured initially by Alenia Aeronautica (2006-2012) and Alenia Aermacchi (2012-2016) and now by Leonardo S.p.A..[6] The C-295 was a major bidder for the US Army–US Air Force Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) programme but lost to the L-3 Communications/Alenia team for the C-27J in June 2007.[7] The C-295 was considered a higher risk by the Army due to its use of a new operational mode to meet altitude and range requirements.[8] Among other contracts the C-295 lost to the C-27J are the Peruvian Air Force's Antonov An-32s' replacement and the Royal Australian Air Force's retired de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribous' replacement.

C-295 AEW prototype at the Royal International Air Tattoo in 2011

C-295W prototype at the Farnborough Airshow in 2014

C-295 Armed ISR variant at Dubai Air Show 2017

C-295M

Military transport version. Capacity for 71 troops, 48 paratroops, 27 stretchers, five 2.24 × 2.74 m (88 × 108 inches) pallets, or three light vehicles.[9]

CN-295

Variant made by Indonesian Aerospace, who have a license to build the C-295 in Indonesia. Since 2011, Indonesian Aerospace has an industrial collaboration with Airbus Defence & Space for the CN-295 program.[10]

C-295 MPA/Persuader

Maritime patrol/anti-submarine warfare version. Provision for six hardpoints.[9]

C-295 AEW&C

Prototype airborne early warning and control version with EL/W-2090 360 degree radar dome. The AESA radar was developed by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and has an integrated IFF (Identification friend or foe) system.

C-295 Firefighter

Dedicated aerial firefighting aircraft.[11]

CC-295 SAR

Dedicated search and rescue aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force.[12]

C-295 SIGINT

Dedicated signals intelligence version.

C-295W

Enhanced performance version with winglets and uprated engines announced in 2013. Certification is expected in 2014.[13]

AC-295 Gunship

Gunship version developed by Airbus Defence and Space, Orbital ATK, and the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau, based on the AC-235 Light Gunship configuration.[14][15]

KC-295

Dedicated tanker aircraft.[16]

CASA C-295 operators:

  C-295M users.

  C-295 Persuader users

  Both versions users.

Bangladesh Army Aviation Group CN-295W

EADS CASA C-295 of the Brazilian Air Force in special markings for RIAT 2009

EADS CASA C-295 of the Kazakh Air Force delivered in 2013

A Royal Air Force of Oman C-295MPA being tested at Seville Airport in 2015

Portuguese Air Force EADS CASA C-295 (code 16708) arrives at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire, England, on 10 July 2014, for the Royal International Air Tattoo

CASA C-295 of the Polish Air Force at the Radom Air Show in 2005

The C-295 is in service with the armed forces of 15 countries. As of 31 August 2015, 136 C295s have been ordered with 134 in service and two lost in accidents.[17]

 Algeria

• The Algerian Air Force received six C-295s for transport and maritime patrol.[18] One lost in accident.[19]

 Angola

• The Angolan Navy ordered three C-295s for maritime patrol duties.[20]

 Bangladesh

• The Bangladesh Army Aviation Group operates one C-295W for tactical transport.[21][22]

 Brazil

• The Brazilian Air Force received 13 C-295s, designated C-105A Amazonas, to replace their ageing DHC-5/C-115 Buffalo transports. Additional orders are to raise the total to 15 by 2020.[18][23][24]

 Burkina Faso

• The Burkina Faso Air Force has one C-295 on order as of December 2019.[25]

 Canada

• The Royal Canadian Air Force has been authorized to purchase 16 CC-295s to replace its ageing fleet of CC-115 Buffalo and older-model C-130H Hercules search and rescue aircraft. They will be operated from Greenwood, Nova Scotia; Trenton, Ontario; Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Comox, British Columbia (418 Search and Rescue Operational Training Squadron). The aircraft will be primarily operated at CFB Comox, where Airbus is building an RCAF Search & Rescue Training Facility for the CC-295. [26] The first aircraft is to be delivered in late 2019.[27] A second aircraft arriving January 2020 is a trainer not included in the 16 aircraft ordered.[28]

 Chile

• The Chilean Navy operates three C-295 MPA.

 Colombia

• The Colombian Air Force operates six C-295s; the last of original four was delivered in April 2009. The fifth aircraft was ordered in September 2012 and delivered 14 March 2013.[29] The sixth aircraft was ordered in January 2013, entering service before 31 August 2015.[29]

 Czech Republic

• The Czech Air Force ordered four C-295 which replaced their Antonov An-26s, with all having been delivered in 2010. They are based at Kbely Airforce-Base.[30] Two more were ordered in 2017.[31]

 Ecuador

• The Ecuadorian Air Force operates three aircraft.[29]

 Egypt

• The Egyptian Air Force operates 24 C-295 as of August 2018.[32] Three aircraft were initially ordered for tactical and logistical transport.[33] The first delivery was on 24 September 2011.[34] In January 2013 a follow-on order was signed for six more aircraft[35] and a further eight was ordered on 16 July 2014.[36]

 Equatorial Guinea

• Equatorial Guinea Air Force – Two (one transport and one surveillance) aircraft on order for delivery from September 2016.[37]

 Finland

• The Finnish Air Force operates three C-295.[38] There is an option for four more additional aircraft.[18]

 Ghana

• The Ghanaian Air Force operates two C-295s and has ordered a third one.[39]

 India

• The Indian Air Force will be operating 56 C-295Ws and the Indian Coast Guard will be operating 6 more. An order for 56 was finalised on 13 May 2015 by the Indian Ministry of Defense. The first 16 C-295s will be brought in fly away condition; the remaining 40 will be manufactured in India in partnership with Tata Advanced Systems.[40] In March 2019, as price negotiations were concluded, the order was raised to a total of 62, with 6 aircraft for Indian Coast Guard.[41]

 Indonesia

• The Indonesian Air Force operates eight C-295 for tactical and logistical transport. One C-295 is on order as of August 2015.[29] Three planes will be assembled in Indonesia by Indonesian Aerospace (Indonesian: PT Dirgantara Indonesia), the same company which built the CN-235, the C-295's predecessor.[42] The first two aircraft were delivered in September 2012.[43][44] The C-295s replaced the older Fokker F27s.

 Ireland

• The Irish Air Corps ordered two C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft in December 2019 to replace their CN-235 aircraft.[45]

 Ivory Coast

• The Air Force of Ivory Coast ordered a C-295 from Airbus Defence and Space on 21 January 2019.[46]

 Jordan

• The Royal Jordanian Air Force operates three C-295 and has another one on order as of August 2015.[29][18]

 Kazakhstan

• The Kazakh Air Force operates eight C-295. In March 2019, Kazakhstan awarded Airbus a contract to produce a ninth C-295 for the Kazakh Air Force.[47]

 Mali

• Air Force of Mali – one C-295W ordered in February 2016, delivered in December 2016.[48][49]

 Mexico

• The Mexican Air Force operates eight C-295Ms. They operate in the 301st Squadron, based in Santa Lucia AFB.
• The Mexican Navy operates four C-295Ms & two C-295Ws. They are based at the Tapachula Air Naval Base.

 Oman

• The Royal Air Force of Oman operates six C-295 and has two on order as of August 2015.[29]

 Philippines

• The Philippine Air Force ordered three units of C-295M as of April 2014 and the first unit arrived on 22 March 2015.[29][50] All three are in service as of 22 January 2016.[51] On 16 October 2018, a Notice of Award was issued in favor of Airbus for the procurement of one unit of a C-295-based command-and-control fixed-wing turboprop aircraft with a contract price of PHP1.8 billion.[52]

 Poland

• The Polish Air Force has received 17 C-295 that replaced their Antonov An-26s. One aircraft crashed on 23 January 2008, the other 16 are in service at Kraków-Balice Air Base. Poland was the first foreign customer, ordering eight planes in 2001, two each in 2006 and 2007, with delivery from 2003 to 2008.[53] In June 2012, another five aircraft were ordered,[54] two delivered in October 2012, third in December 2012, and final two units on 2 November 2013.[55]

 Portugal

• The Portuguese Air Force received 12 C-295, including seven transport (PG01) and five Persuader Maritime Patrol Aircraft (C-295 MPA, three PG02 and two PG03),[56][57] to replace the C-212 Aviocar. They are operated by 502 Squadron and are based at Montijo Air Base, near Lisbon.[18]

 Saudi Arabia

• The Ministry of Interior has ordered four C-295W in June 2015.[58]

 Spain

• The Spanish Air Force operates 13 C-295 (designated internally as T.21).

 Thailand

• The Royal Thai Army ordered one C-295W.[29]

 United Arab Emirates

• The United Arab Emirates Air Force ordered five C-295W.[59][60][61]

 Uzbekistan

• The Uzbekistan Air and Air Defence Forces ordered four units of C-295W.[62]

 Vietnam

• The Vietnam People's Air Force operates three C-295 aircraft.[29]

• Mirosławiec air accident: on 23 January 2008, a Polish Air Force C-295 flying from Warsaw via Powidz and Krzesiny to Mirosławiec crashed during its approach to the 12th Air Base near Mirosławiec.[63] All 20 people on board were killed in the accident.[64] All Polish C-295s were grounded after the incident.[65] Polish defence minister Bogdan Klich dismissed five air force personnel after the accident investigation, which concluded that multiple failings contributed to 23 January crash.[66]
• On 31 October 2011, the Czech Army grounded its fleet of four C-295Ms due to an in-flight equipment failure onboard one aircraft. While landing, one of its two engines had stopped working, prior to this, a cockpit display and other equipment had also failed; the plane landed safely on its remaining engine. General Vlastimil Picek ordered the grounding of all aircraft until an inquiry ended. The fleet was previously grounded in February 2011, following a severe drop in altitude in mid-flight, and again in May due to avionics problems.[67]
• On 9 November 2012, an Algerian Air Force C-295 crashed in the Lozère region of southern France while flying from Paris to Algeria with the loss of all six people on board.[68]

EADS CASA C-295

Cargo cabin transporting a Polish military Honker light vehicle

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 2004-05[69]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Capacity: 73 troops / 48 paratroops / 12 stretcher intensive care medevac / 27 stretcher medevac with 4 medical attendants
• Maximum payload: 7,050 kg (15,543 lb) normal

9,250 kg (20,393 lb) overload

• Length: 24.46 m (80 ft 3 in)
• Wingspan: 25.81 m (84 ft 8 in)
• Height: 8.66 m (28 ft 5 in)
• Wing area: 59 m² (640 sq ft)
• Airfoil: NACA 65-218[70]
• Max takeoff weight: 21,000 kg (46,297 lb) normal

23,200 kg (51,147 lb) overload

• Maximum landing weight: 20,700 kg (45,636 lb) normal

23,200 kg (51,147 lb) overload

• Maximum zero-fuel weight: 18,500 kg (40,786 lb) normal

20,700 kg (45,636 lb) overload

• Fuel capacity: 7,650 l (2,020 US gal; 1,680 imp gal) with optional in-flight refuelling probe
• Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127G turboprop engines, 1,972 kW (2,644 hp) each for take-off (normal)

2,177 kW (2,919 hp) with APR

• Propellers: 6-bladed Hamilton Sundstrand HS-586F-5, 3.94 m (12 ft 11 in) diameter composite propellers with auto-feathering and synchro-phasing

Performance

• Cruise speed: 482 km/h (300 mph, 260 kn) at optimum altitude
• Range: 1,555 km (966 mi, 840 nmi) normal payload, ISA, 45 minutes reserve at 460 m (1,509 ft)

1,277 km (793 mi; 690 nmi) max overload payload

4,587 km (2,850 mi; 2,477 nmi) normal MTOW, max fuel with 2,940 kg (6,482 lb) payload

2,148 km (1,335 mi; 1,160 nmi) overload MTOW, max fuel with 8,000 kg (17,637 lb) payload

• Ferry range: 5,000 km (3,100 mi, 2,700 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 4,125 m (13,533 ft) on one engine
• Absolute ceiling: 9,145 m (30,003 ft)
• g limits: +2.53 (normal MTOW)

+2.25 (overload MTOW)

• Time to altitude: to optimum cruising altitude 12 minutes
• Power/mass: 0.188 kW/kg (0.114 hp/lb) normal

0.17 kW/kg (0.10 hp/lb) overload

• Take-off run: 844 m (2,769 ft) Sea level, ISA

934 m (3,064 ft) Sea level, ISA + 20

• Take-off distance to 15 m (49 ft): 1,025 m (3,363 ft) Sea level, ISA

1,103 m (3,619 ft) Sea level, ISA + 20

• Landing run: 420 m (1,378 ft)
• Landing distance from 15 m (49 ft): 729 m (2,392 ft)

Armament

• Hardpoints: 6 (optional: three under each wing) with a capacity of inboard pylons 800 kg (1,764 lb) ; centre pylons 500 kg (1,102 lb) ; outboard pylons 300 kg (661 lb),

Avionics
Honeywell RDR-1400C weather radar

• IFR instrumentation , comms and FMS as specified by customers

Related development

• CASA CN-235

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Alenia C-27J Spartan
• Antonov An-32
• Antonov An-132
• Ilyushin Il-112

• Jackson, Paul. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004. Coulsdon, UK: Jane's Information Group, 2003. ISBN 0-7106-2537-5.
• Munson, Kenneth. "Andalusian Airlifter – CASA C-295". Air International, Vol 75, No. 5, November 2008. pp. 32–37.
• Rebelo, Colonel PILAV Hélder Martins; Rocha, Major NAV Rui; Martins, Major NAV Vítor Lazera (November–December 2012). "ISR – A exploração integrada dos sistemas de armas C-295M e P-3C/CUP+" [ISR – The integrated exploration of the C-295M and P-3C/CUP+ weapon systems] (PDF). Mais Alto (in Portuguese) (400): 5–16. Retrieved 21 July 2013.

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