Força Aérea Nacional de Angola Becomes 38th Operator of Type

The Airbus C295 has gotten a bolstering, minor order from the Republic of Angola, with the sale of 3 multirole aircraft. 

Angola ordered 2 of the type specially equipped for oceanic and coastal surveillance and patrol, designated the C295 Maritime Surveillance Aircraft. Their mission will consist primarily of search and rescue, patrolling for illegal fishing, unauthorized border transit, and intelligence-gathering missions. Angola believes the ISR suite on the variant provides a wider range of capability, not just providing enhanced oversight for enforcement, but better support for mass recovery operations in case of natural disasters.

Airbus will outfit the third aircraft as a traditional, multirole cargo transport. Each of the aircraft will be equipped with the company's new Fully Integrated Tactical System, allowing for better integration and utility across similarly equipped aircraft. The C295 has increasingly gained ground in countries facing increased likelihood of unimproved runway operation, finding the twin-engine, high wing turboprop a thankfully easy aircraft to manage.

Previous users, Airbus says, have utilized their C295s to create "air bridges" in cases of emergency, reaching isolated, embattled regions with the creation of landing strips sufficient for the type's short takeoff and landing capabilities. 

Humanitarian missions cite its large fuel capacity and relative fuel efficiency to older aircraft in the same vein, allowing multiple lifts without refueling, in addition to the enhanced environmental friendliness that results from lower fuel burn. Angola, of course, hopes that such capabilities will not be needed, but preparation for the worst is worth the peace of mind.

FMI: www.airbus.com