EADS CASA C-295
Encyclopedia
The EADS CASA C-295 is a twin-turboprop
Turboprop
A turboprop engine is a type of turbine engine which drives an aircraft propeller using a reduction gear.The gas turbine is designed specifically for this application, with almost all of its output being used to drive the propeller...
tactical military transport aircraft
Military transport aircraft
Military transport aircraft are typically fixed and rotary wing cargo aircraft which are used to deliver troops, weapons and other military equipment by a variety of methods to any area of military operations around the surface of the planet, usually outside of the commercial flight routes in...
manufactured by Airbus Military
Airbus Military
thumb|First [[Airbus A400M]] roll-out in [[Seville]] in June 2008Airbus Military is a business unit of Airbus, which is part of the EADS conglomerate...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Design and development
The C-295 is a further development of the commercially successful SpanishSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
transport aircraft CASA CN-235
CASA CN-235
The CASA/IPTN CN-235 is a medium-range twin-engined transport plane that was jointly developed by CASA of Spain and IPTN of Indonesia as a regional airliner and military transport. Its primary military roles include maritime patrol, surveillance, and air transport...
with a stretched fuselage, 50% more payload capability and new PW127G turboprop engines. The C-295 made its maiden flight in 1998. The first order came from the Spanish Air Force
Spanish Air Force
-The early stages:Hot air balloons had been used with military purposes in Spain as far back as 1896. In 1905, with the help of Alfredo Kindelán, Leonardo Torres y Quevedo directed the construction of the first Spanish dirigible in the Army Military Aerostatics Service, created in 1896 and located...
.
They are manufactured and assembled in the Airbus Military
Airbus Military
thumb|First [[Airbus A400M]] roll-out in [[Seville]] in June 2008Airbus Military is a business unit of Airbus, which is part of the EADS conglomerate...
facilities in the San Pablo Airport, in Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
, Spain.
Operational history
The C-295 is in service with the Armed Forces of 13 countries. As of 4 August 2011, 85 C295s have been contracted and 75 are in service, one was lost in accident.The C-295 was also a major bidder for the US Army/US Air Force Joint Cargo Aircraft (JCA) awarded to the L-3 Communications
L-3 Communications
L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. is a company that supplies command and control, communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems and products, avionics, ocean products, training devices and services, instrumentation, space, and navigation products. Its customers include...
/Alenia team on June 13, 2007. 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.
The C-295 is a candidate to replace the Canadian Forces
Canadian Forces
The Canadian Forces , officially the Canadian Armed Forces , are the unified armed forces of Canada, as constituted by the National Defence Act, which states: "The Canadian Forces are the armed forces of Her Majesty raised by Canada and consist of one Service called the Canadian Armed Forces."...
's de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo
De Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo
The de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo is a short takeoff and landing utility transport, a turboprop aircraft developed from the earlier piston-powered DHC-4 Caribou...
.
This aircraft, along with the C-27J Spartan, is also a candidate to replace the Indonesian Air Force
Indonesian Air Force
The Indonesian Air Force is the air force branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces.The Indonesian Air Force has 34,930 personnel equipped with 110 combat aircraft including Su-27 and Su-30.-Before Indonesian independence :...
's Fokker F27
Fokker F27
The Fokker F27 Friendship is a turboprop airliner designed and built by the Dutch aircraft manufacturer Fokker.-Design and development:Design of the Fokker F27 started in the 1950s as a replacement to the successful Douglas DC-3 airliner...
and the Peruvian Air Force
Peruvian Air Force
The Peruvian Air Force is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with defending the nation and its interests through the use of air power...
's Antonov An-32
Antonov An-32
The Antonov An-32 is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft.-Design and development:The An-32 is basically a re-engined An-26. The launch customer was the Indian Air Force, which ordered this aircraft partly due to good relations between then USSR leader Leonid Brezhnev and then...
.
In November 2011, the Australian ministry of defence put out an request for information on the C-295 and C-27J as a belated replacement for Australia's already retired de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou
De Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou
The de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou is a Canadian-designed and produced specialized cargo aircraft with short takeoff and landing capability...
.
Variants
C-295M- Miltary transport version. Capacity for 73 troops, 48 paratroops, 27 stretchers, five 2.24 × 2.74 m (88 × 108 inches) pallets or three light vehicles.
C-295MPA/Persuader
- Martime patrol/anti-submarine warfare version. Provision for six hardpoints.
AEW&C
- Prototype airborne early warning and control version with 360 degree radar dome. The AESA radar was developed by IAI and has an integrated IFFIdentification friend or foeIn telecommunications, identification, friend or foe is an identification system designed for command and control. It is a system that enables military and national interrogation systems to identify aircraft, vehicles, or forces as friendly and to determine their bearing and range from the...
system.
Operators
- Algerian Air ForceAlgerian Air ForceThe Algerian Air Force is the aerial arm of the Algerian People's Military.- Inventory :- External links : http://www.algaf.bravehost.com/index.htm http://www.avions-militaires.net/dossiers/armee-air/dza.php...
received 6 C-295 for transport and maritime patrol.
- Brazilian Air ForceBrazilian Air ForceThe Brazilian Air Force is the air branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces and one of the three national uniformed services. The FAB was formed when the Army and Navy air branch were merged into a single military force initially called "National Air Forces"...
received 12 aircraft, designated C-105A Amazonas, to replace the aging DHC-5/C-115 BuffaloDe Havilland Canada DHC-5 BuffaloThe de Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo is a short takeoff and landing utility transport, a turboprop aircraft developed from the earlier piston-powered DHC-4 Caribou...
transporters.
- Chilean NavyChilean Navy-Independence Wars of Chile and Peru :The Chilean Navy dates back to 1817. A year before, following the Battle of Chacabuco, General Bernardo O'Higgins prophetically declared "this victory and another hundred shall be of no significance if we do not gain control of the sea".This led to the...
recently purchased 3 C-295 MPA to replace their aging P-3ACH OrionsP-3 OrionThe Lockheed P-3 Orion is a four-engine turboprop anti-submarine and maritime surveillance aircraft developed for the United States Navy and introduced in the 1960s. Lockheed based it on the L-188 Electra commercial airliner. The aircraft is easily recognizable by its distinctive tail stinger or...
. Chile has options on a further 5 to replace a combined fleet of 8 Embraer EMB-111 Bandeirante and 3 Casa C-212A.
- Colombian Air ForceColombian Air ForceThe Colombian Air Force or FAC is the Air Force of the Republic of Colombia.The Colombian Air Force is one of the three institutions of the Armed Forces of Colombia, charge according to the 1991 Constitution of the work to exercise and maintain control of Colombia's airspace to defend the...
ordered 4 C-295s, the last of which was delivered April 2009.
- Czech Air ForceCzech Air ForceThe Czech Air Force is the air force branch of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic. The Air Force, with the Land Forces, comprises the Joint Forces, the main combat power of the Armed Forces of the Czech Republic...
ordered 4 C-295Ms that replaced the Antonov An-26Antonov An-26The Antonov An-26 is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft, designed and produced in the USSR from 12 March 1968.-Development:...
, with all delivered in 2010. They are based at Kbely Air-Base.
- Egypt Air Force have ordered 3 aircraft for tactical and logistical transports. First delivery was on 24 September 2011.
- Finnish Air ForceFinnish Air ForceThe Finnish Air Force is one of the branches of the Finnish Defence Forces. Its peacetime tasks are airspace surveillance, identification flights, and production of readiness formations for wartime conditions...
operates 2 C-295Ms and has an order for one additional C-295M (the plane will be equipped with a ESMElectronic warfare support measuresIn military telecommunications, the terms Electronic Support or Electronic Support Measures describe the division of electronic warfare involving actions taken under direct control of an operational commander to detect, intercept, identify, locate, record, and/or analyze sources of radiated...
/ ELINT system designed by Lockheed Martin) for delivery in 2013. Option for 4 more additional aircraft.
- Ghana Air ForceGhana Air ForceThe Ghana Air Force is the air force of the African nation of Ghana. The GAF, along with the Ghanaian Army and Navy, make up the armed forces of Ghana which are controlled by that nation's Ministry of Defence....
ordered 2 C-295 to replace Fokker F-27. First aircraft was delivered 18 November 2011.
- Indonesian Air ForceIndonesian Air ForceThe Indonesian Air Force is the air force branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces.The Indonesian Air Force has 34,930 personnel equipped with 110 combat aircraft including Su-27 and Su-30.-Before Indonesian independence :...
have ordered 9 aircraft for tactical and logistical transports. Three plane will be assembled in Indonesia by PT Dirgantara Indonesia, the same company which made CN-235 its predecessor.
- Royal Jordanian Air ForceRoyal Jordanian Air ForceThe Royal Jordanian Air Force is the air force branch of the Jordanian Armed Forces.-Early days:...
received 2 aircraft.
- Mexican NavyMexican NavyThe Mexican Navy is the naval branch of the Mexican military responsible for conducting naval operations. Its stated mission is "to use the naval force of the federation for the exterior defense, and to help with internal order". The Navy consists of about 56,000 men and women plus reserves, over...
operates 2 C-295. 2 more will be delivered by the end of 2010. They are based at Tapachula Air Naval Base. - Mexican Air ForceMexican Air ForceThe Mexican Air Force is the aviation branch of the Mexican Army and depends on the National Defense Secretariat . Since 2008, its commander is Gen...
has purchased 5 C-295. The first two aircraft will be delivered in the summer of 2010. They are based at Santa Lucía Air Force Base in the 301 Squadron.
- Polish Air ForcePolish Air ForceThe Polish Air Force is the military Air Force wing of the Polish Armed Forces. Until July 2004 it was officially known as Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej...
has received 12 aircraft that replaced the Antonov An-26Antonov An-26The Antonov An-26 is a twin-engined turboprop military transport aircraft, designed and produced in the USSR from 12 March 1968.-Development:...
. One aircraft crashed on 24 January 2008, 11 are in service in Kraków-Balice Air Base.
- Portuguese Air ForcePortuguese Air ForceThe Portuguese Air Force is the air force of Portugal. Formed on July 1, 1952, with the Aeronáutica Militar and Aviação Naval united in a single independent Air Force, it is one of the three branches of the Portuguese Armed Forces and its origins dates back to 1912, when the military aviation...
received 12 C-295, including 5 Persuader Maritime Patrol Aircraft, to replace the C-212 AviocarCASA C.212 AviocarThe CASA C-212 Aviocar is a turboprop-powered STOL medium transport aircraft designed and built in Spain for civil and military use. C-212s are also produced under licence in Indonesia by Indonesian Aerospace, formerly called IPTN but now known as IAe...
. They are based at Montijo Air Base, near Lisbon.
- Spanish Air ForceSpanish Air Force-The early stages:Hot air balloons had been used with military purposes in Spain as far back as 1896. In 1905, with the help of Alfredo Kindelán, Leonardo Torres y Quevedo directed the construction of the first Spanish dirigible in the Army Military Aerostatics Service, created in 1896 and located...
received 13 aircraft (designated T.21).
Incidents
Mirosławiec air accident: on January 23, 2008 a Polish Air ForcePolish Air Force
The Polish Air Force is the military Air Force wing of the Polish Armed Forces. Until July 2004 it was officially known as Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej...
CASA C-295 flying from Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
via Powidz and Krzesiny to Mirosławiec crashed during approach to the 12th Air Base
12th Air Base
The 12 Baza Lotnicza is a Polish Air Force base, located 5 km north of Mirosławiec.It was constituted on 1 January 2001.In 2008 it was the site of the Mirosławiec air accident.-External links:...
near Mirosławiec. All passengers and crew aboard were killed. The number of victims were 20. All Polish C-295s were grounded after the incident.
Polish defence minister Bogdan Klich
Bogdan Klich
Bogdan Adam Klich was a Polish politician and Minister of National Defence of Poland. Bogdan Klich was interned in 1981 during the martial law set by the communist regime...
dismissed five air force personnel after the accident investigation, which concluded that multiple failings contributed to the 23 January crash.
The Czech Army grounded its fleet of four CASA C-295M aircraft on October 31, 2011 due to equipment failure.
A Navigation Display and other equipment "stopped working during landing" in a plane flying in from Seville, Spain, on Oct. 30- the Czech Army spokesperson Mira Trebicka said in a statement. "One of the two engines then stopped working." The two pilots managed to land with one engine. Army Gen. Vkastimil Picek has ordered the immediate grounding of all planes, until the inquiry has ended.
In 2010, the Czech Army replaced its Antonov An-26 fleet with CASA C-295M planes.
The aircraft were already grounded in February, following a severe drop in altitude in mid-flight and again in May, after problems with an avionics system.
Specifications (C-295M)
See also
External links
- EADS product sheet (PDF)
- C-295M Twin Turboprop Transport Aircraft, Spain
- Spanish Air Force P-3B Modernisation (PDF)
- Team JCA's C-295/CN-235 Transport Aircraft Fleet Completes 1 Million Flights
- Team JCA's C-295 Advances to Phase II Evaluation for Joint Cargo Aircraft Program.
- Military Services Competing For Future Airlift Missions
- Photo gallery of Polish CASA C-295M