Airbus focused on the development of the C295.
The end of last year clearly showed that the development of the Airbus C295 light transport aircraft is still ongoing. The designers of Airbus Defense & Space do not stop there and consistently implement new, ambitious projects that demonstrate the potential of the machine, in the construction of which the Warsaw plant EADS PZL Warszawa-Okęcie SA is an important link.
The most important events related to the C2015 program in 295 include the delivery of the first production copy of the C295W version to the Mexican naval aviation, the selection of the Airbus proposal in the tender for 56 light transport aircraft in India, and the publication of information on the work on the possibility of using the C295M / W in as a tanker aircraft in the air.
Last year was a transition period for the production of the base transport variant - the production of the C295M model was discontinued and the C295W was implemented. The first recipient of the new version is the one who ordered two copies - the first was delivered on March 30, 2015. Uzbekistan was the next contractor to receive brand new C295Ws (it ordered four machines and is the second consumer among the countries of the former USSR after Kazakhstan, which decided to purchase a third pair last year and has an option to purchase four more machines). as well as the Ministry of the Interior of Saudi Arabia, whose order includes four vehicles. Deliveries to the rest of the world (Philippines, Indonesia and Ghana) included the previous "M" variant. The external feature that distinguishes both production models are the winglets in the "W" version, the use of which reduces fuel consumption by 4%, and also allows you to increase the load capacity in all conditions. It is important to note that their assembly is also possible on previously produced M aircraft. Perhaps Spain will take this step, which uses 13 C295M (local number T.21). This option should also be analyzed in Poland, since the first eight aircraft of the Air Force belong to the group of the oldest C295Ms in production (delivered in 2003-2005) and could be upgraded during the next factory overhaul after eight years of operation, which will end in 2019-2021 gg., XNUMX-XNUMX
It is worth emphasizing that among the currently produced light transport aircraft, it is the Airbus Defense & Space product that boasts the largest sales (as of December 31 last year) - 169 copies, of which 148 have been delivered, and 146 are in service. (So far, two aircraft have been lost in accidents: in 2008 in Poland near Miroslavets and in Algeria in 2012 in France). Subject to completion of negotiations with India, the number of sold C295s of all versions will exceed 200. Continuous development, backed by a thorough analysis of the needs of existing and potential users, means that the aircraft built in Seville can dominate their segment for many years to come. Possible new recipients of the machines at the moment are: Kenya (three C295W), Saudi Arabia (18 C295W, which will go to military aviation), South Africa, Malaysia (10 C295W) and Thailand (six C295W, one already contracted and should be delivered in this year). A lucrative contract in Vietnam is also not ruled out, where the acquisition of the C295 in the early warning and command variant, as well as the naval C295MPA Persuader, is being considered. Together with the smaller CN235s, they now account for 6% of the world's military transport and special fleet.
