CASA 295 et dérivés

Airbus Military a procédé avec succès, le mois dernier, au premier largage d'une torpille depuis l'avion C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft.

Selon l'industriel, il s'agit d'une étape importante dans le développement d'une version anti-sous-marine de l'appareil, baptisée C295 MPA/ASW.
Dans cette configuration, l'avion pourra emporter, grâce à deux pylônes installés sous les ailes, deux torpilles légères.

Un système de combat sera, dans le même temps, chargé de traiter les données recueillies par les moyens d'écoute (bouées acoustiques) et de mettre en oeuvre les armes.

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Selon Airbus Military, le C295 MPA affiche une autonomie de 11 heures et peut remplir de nombreuses missions, comme le sauvetage en mer (SAR), la surveillance des zones économiques exclusives, la détection de pollutions maritimes et, bientôt, la lutte anti-sous-marine.

« Un total de 82 C295 ont été vendus à 12 opérateurs, et 9 pays ont commandé 47 CN235/C295 MPA, ce qui démontre les capacités et l'efficacité des plateformes d'Airbus Military pour les missions de patrouille maritime », souligne l'avionneur européen.
Grâce au C295 MPA, Airbus pourra séduire des marines souhaitant se doter d'avions de patrouille maritime plus légers et moins onéreux que de gros appareils comme le P-3 C Orion, le P-8 A Poseidon ou encore l'Atlantique 2.

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Mexican Air Force Takes Delivery of First C295

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Airbus announced that the Mexican Air Force has taken delivery of the first of five C295s it has ordered from Airbus Military. The aircraft is equipped with a palletized loading system and a medical evacuation kit, according to the manufacturer. The second of the five airlifters will be delivered in the coming weeks, with all five handed over to the customer by year end.

The Mexican Navy has operated two C295s since 2009. Last month a torpedo was dropped from a C295 for the first time and Chile received its first C295.

EADS pitches A400M, C-295 to Australia

EADS, which is preparing to start deliveries of air tankers to the Royal Australian Air Force, has also been busy promoting its Airbus Military A400M and C-295 in Australia.
The A400M would be useful to Australia because "it is twice the size of the Lockheed Martin C-130 and carries twice the weight", says EADS corporate vice-president of international development for Asia Pacific and South America Christian Duhain.
"It is a stronger aircraft and can take off from rugged airfields," he adds.
EADS has also been putting forward the C-295 to meet the military's requirement for fixed-wing short take-off and landing aircraft. The requirement has come about because late last year the air force retired its last de Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou transports.
Some of the Caribou's roles will be fulfilled by utility helicopters, but the Australian Defence Force has said publicly that it will also need fixed-wing aircraft.
This procurement will come under the Department of Defence's Project 8000 phase two, which calls for "first pass" approval in the 2010-11 to 2011-12 fiscal year and a decision in either 2012-13 or 2014-15.
As an interim solution, the service has been relying on Beechcraft King Air 350s.
While EADS may be hoping Australia can become the A400M's second export customer outside Europe, it is continuing to work to deliver five Airbus A330 multi-role tanker transports to the air force.

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Duhain says the programme's first two aircraft are supporting test activities in Spain, and will be delivered by the end of the year. These were modified by Airbus Military and Qantas Defence Services, respectively, with the latter to also prepare the remaining three examples.
"We are trying to make Australia part of our global supply chain," says Duhain, who notes that EADS's Eurocopter subsidiary also owns Australian Aerospace in Brisbane. The company assembles the Tiger armed reconnaissance helicopter for the Australian Army.
"Our approach is not about offsets: rather our approach is long term," he says.
Duhain confirms that there may be an opportunity for Australian Aerospace to make helicopters for export customers.

Egypt orders three Airbus Military C295 aircraft

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The Egyptian Air Force (EAF) signed a contract with Airbus Military for the acquisition of three C295 aircraft. The aircraft are to be delivered from 2011 and will be used to increase the Egyptian Air Force’s capacity in tactical and logistic transport. The Egyptian Air Force herewith becomes a new Airbus Military customer.

The Egyptian Air Force selected the C295 because of its ease of maintenance and proven operational capabilities, especially in desert areas. Furthermore, its versatility and adaptability to the most varied type of conditions and operations were another key element in the selection of the Airbus Military C295.

Today, 85 C295 have been ordered by 13 customers, 64 of which are being operated in 11 countries.

About the C295

The new generation C295 is the ideal aircraft for defence and civic missions to the benefit of society, such as humanitarian actions, maritime patrol, environmental surveillance missions, amongst others. Thanks to its robustness and reliability, and with simple systems, this medium sized tactical airlifter provides wide versatility and flexibility, necessary for personnel, troop and bulky/palletized cargo transportation, casualty evacuation, communication and logistic duties or certified air-dropping capabilities.

Its mix of dual technology civil/military equipment ensure success on demanding tactical missions, growth potential for future equipment as well as compatibility with the latest civil airspace environment. The C295 is part of Airbus Military’s family of light and medium airlifters which also include the smaller C212 and CN235 platforms.

About Airbus Military

Airbus Military is the only military and civic transport aircraft manufacturer to develop, produce, sell and support a comprehensive family of airlifters ranging from three to 45 tonnes of payload.

Within Airbus, Airbus Military is responsible for the A400M programme, as well as the Multi Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) A330 and for further military derivatives based on Airbus civil aircraft. Together with the smaller C295, CN235 and C212, Airbus Military is the global leader in the market segments for light and medium-sized military transport aircraft. Altogether Airbus Military has sold more than 1,000 aircraft with more than 100 operators worldwide.

Airbus Military C295 AWACS: Will It Take Off?

Airbus Military as early as next month could be flying a C295 prototype modified for use as an airborne early warning and control system following a self-funded technology assessment effort.
Three months of flight testing are planned, says Miguel-Angel Morrell Fuentes, Airbus Military Head of Engineering.

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It is a crowded market, but Airbus hopes that the operating cost benefits for the C295 will help it secure customers.
The feasibility study was launched in the second half of last year and concluded around year end, before a decision was taken to build the prototype.
The dummy rotodome was installed on the C295 on May 17. It measures around 6 meters in diameter. Airbus Military has opted for a rotodome because it provides better performance with 360 deg. coverage, Morrell says.
Flight testing will look at the drag effects of the radar.
No specific radar has been selected at this point. Those decisions would not be made until the company decides to actually launch a program. The engineering assessment of flight testing first needs to be completed.

Egypt takes delivery of first C-295 transport

Airbus Military has delivered its first of three C-295 medium transports to the Egyptian air force, with the service to receive its remaining examples before year-end.

Egypt placed an order for its C-295 fleet in October 2010.

The Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127G-engined transports are being completed at Airbus Military's final assembly line for light and medium transport aircraft at its San Pablo site near Seville, Spain.

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