ASW, Naval Combat Aircraft Procured to Replace P-3 Poseidon

The Spanish Ministry of Defence has placed an order for 16 C295 aircraft, with a split between Maritime Patrol and Maritime Surveillance Aircraft.

The contract includes a suite of training systems and an initial bolus of logistics support, providing the Spaniards with a 'starter kit' of everything needed to keep their new aircraft operational. The training pack will include a Full Flight Simulator and Mission System Simulator, allowing them to provide cost-effective, efficient training to current and future C295 pilots.

The C295s will replace the P-3 Orion fleet, which was recently retired at the end of 2022. The new aircraft will sport anti-sub, anti-surface, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance equipment. The aircraft will come ready to equip torpedoes and traditional air-launched ordnance. The Maritime Patrol Aircraft layout will boast all the usual connectivity upgrades, too. Spanish C295s will be able to act as flying C2 centers, allowing them to carry out wartime naval aviation missions as well as civil maritime patrol duties.

“The aircraft will be fully designed and manufactured in Spain, fostering the national industrial defence footprint and sovereignty” said Mike Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space. “In particular, the Maritime Patrol version is the most complex C295 mission configuration to date. A major development project that will bring together the latest technologies to provide an operational advantage to our customer.”

FMI: www.airbus.com