Madrid, December 26, 2025 (Agencies) – Spain has placed an order for 18 additional C295 transport aircraft from Airbus Defence and Space under its Air Mobility Training Technologies programme, the manufacturer announced on Monday.
According to Airbus, the newly ordered C295 aircraft will replace the ageing CN235 and C212 fleets currently used for the training of pilots and paratroopers of the Spanish Air and Space Force. The procurement will further consolidate the C295 as the backbone of Spain’s medium transport aviation capability.
Jean-Brice Dumont, Head of Air Power at Airbus Defence and Space, said the order reaffirmed Spain’s long-term commitment to the C295 platform. He added that the deal would strengthen national strategic autonomy and sovereignty while supporting the growth of the Spanish aeronautical industry and its wider industrial ecosystem. With this contract, Spain’s Air and Space Force will operate a total fleet of 46 C295 aircraft in transport, maritime patrol, and surveillance roles.
Airbus said the agreement has been structured into two separate batches to meet the operational requirements of the Spanish Air and Space Force. The first batch will be dedicated to training and transport missions, including the movement of passengers, paratroopers, and cargo at the Military Air Transport School based at Matacán Air Base in Salamanca. These missions are currently performed by CN235 aircraft. Deliveries of the first batch are scheduled to begin in 2026 and conclude in 2028.
The second batch of C295 aircraft will be configured for manual and automatic paratrooper drops as well as cargo drop operations. These aircraft will be delivered between 2030 and 2032 and will replace the C212 fleet currently operating at the Military Parachuting School at Alcantarilla Air Base in Murcia.
The acquisition forms part of Spain’s broader effort to modernize its air mobility and training capabilities while standardizing its transport fleet around the C295 platform.