Ecuador Expands Military Fleet with Two Airbus C295 Transport Aircraft

Ecuador's president, announced via his social media platforms that he has successfully secured a deal with Airbus Defence & Space for the acquisition of two C295 aircraft.

"We have finalized the purchase of two C295 aircraft from Airbus. The Minister of Defense, Luis Lara, has signed a contract that will strengthen the @EjercitoECU and @armada_ecuador with two aircraft that will be used for security and to assist Ecuadorians in times of emergency.", posted on "X"

The Ecuadorian Minister of Defense, Luis Lara, officially stamped the agreement for the procurement of two C295 military transport planes. One of these aircraft is earmarked for the Ecuadorian Army, while the other will serve the Ecuadorian Navy.

The Ecuadorian Armed Forces are already familiar with this aircraft family, given that the Air Force employs three C295s for transport and cargo tasks. The Army utilizes two CN235s, while the Navy operates an additional pair of CN235s specially configured for maritime patrol operations (MPA).

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Ecuador Increases C295 Fleet by 3 Aircraft

Ecuador has added three C295 transports to its fleet of Airbus Defence and Space military aircraft. The European aerospace company announced June 9 that it had already delivered the first aircraft from its factory.
The order has been on Airbus’ books for sometime but the company has only just been cleared to reveal the deal following the handover of the first aircraft June 6.
Delivery of a second machine to the Ecuadorian Air Force is expected soon with the final aircraft following by the end of the year.
The deal includes a full service support program.
The Army and naval forces of the Latin American nation already operate two Airbus C212s and four CN235s.
Aside from the Ecuador order Airbus has also secured orders this year for a further 17 C295s from undisclosed customers.
These included eight from North Africa, two Middle East customers and a first intelligence and surveillance variant delivery in Latin America.
The executive said he expected to add to the order tally “very soon” with an announcement of a Middle East special operations customer.
Airbus is also developing a gun-ship version of the C259 for an unnamed Middle East customer.
The company already has Jordan as a customer for a gun-ship version of the smaller CN235 aircraft.
defensenews

IAI courts buyers for AEW-equipped C295

Israel Aerospace Industries is in different stages of negotiations with four countries that have shown interest in the Airbus Defence & Space C295 medium transport, fitted with an airborne early warning and control system suite supplied by its Elta Systems subsidiary.
Airbus has previously flown one of its C295 development aircraft with an aerodynamic model of an AEW rotodome installed.
Elta is offering a mission system including a radar, command, control and communications equipment and electronic intelligence sensors.
An Israeli source says the proposed AEW version of the C295 is an attractive option for air forces that already use the European design for transport applications. The current interest includes some nations that currently use the twin-turboprop, the source reveals.
Airbus says an AEW version of the C295 would have a mission endurance of up to 9h, and be capable of operating at an altitude of up to 26,000ft (7,930m).
flightglobal

Spain to operate fewer A400Ms, but seeks 3 A330 MRTT tanker purchase

Spain’s air force expects to be able to employ only around half of the A400M tactical transports on order from Airbus Military, but hopes to widen its fleet renewal effort to also introduce a new fleet of A330-based tankers.
Ejército del Aire (Spanish Air Force) will receive 27 A400M aircraft, but due to budget restrictions it's planne to operate and maintain only 14.
Madrid’s first A400M is due to be delivered in January 2016, followed at a rate of four or five per year for its air force until 2022. Despite the smaller than expected size of the future active fleet, Ejército del Aire wants to operate the type in a multi-role configuration, featuring defensive aids and satellite communications equipment, and a modular air-to-air refuelling kit.
The Spanish air force also hopes to acquire three A330 multi-role tanker transports from Airbus Military, with these to represent its contribution to a proposed pooled fleet being eyed by the European Defence Agency. To also be suitable for national VIP transport tasks, the type would provide a replacement for the air force’s current Boeing 707s, although no funding has yet been allocated for such an order.
The acquisition of a new tanker is one of two top priorities for the Spanish air force, with the other being a plan to acquire a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned air system capability.
Longer term, the air force would like to acquire a multi-role successor for its existing Airbus Military C295/CN235 medium transports, with airborne early warning and electronic warfare as potential applications beyond the airlift role.
flightglobal

Airbus Military is pushing for the C295 to be used by South African Air Force

AIRBUS Military has begun flight-testing the C295 medium transport and surveillance aircraft, which is being proposed as an essential multifunctional military aircraft for the South African Air Force, the company said in a statement on Wednesday.

With some of the air South African Air Force’s aircraft more than 50 years old, Airbus Military is pushing for the C295 light and medium airlifter to be used by South Africa’s defence ministry, especially for the South African Air Force’s maritime patrols and for its medium-weight transport requirements.

The C295 aircraft has a large, roof-mounted elliptical antenna that can make it an airborne early warning and command post. It is also seen as a tactical airlifter that could provide versatility in various transport roles.

HOPEWELL RADEBE-bdlive

Airbus Military begins flight tests of C295 winglets

First flight of the wingletted aircraft took place with complete success at Airbus Military’s Seville facility in Spain on Dec. 21.

Airbus Military has begun flight-testing a modification to add winglets to the C295 medium transport and surveillance aircraft – one of a series of product developments underway on the market-leading type.

The winglets, which are short extensions to the wingtips of the aircraft, have the potential to improve performance in the take-off, climb and cruise phases of flight by increasing the lift-drag ratio.

Possible in-service benefits include improved hot and high runway performance, increased range and endurance, and reduced operating costs.

First flight of the wingletted aircraft took place with complete success at Airbus Military’s Seville facility in Spain on 21 December. Data from that flight is being analysed and will be added to data from future flights, providing the basis for a decision on whether or not to incorporate winglets into the C295 design. The photograph shows the C295 during its first flight with winglets.


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eads

Fuerza Aérea del Perú adquirirá un avión de alerta temprana y guerra electrónica

El Ministerio de Defensa del Perú ha recibido una asignación presupuestaria parauna aeronave de transporte para la Marina de Guerra del Perú y, notablemente, una aeronave de alerta temprana y guerra electrónica para la Fuerza Aérea del Perú (FAP).

Durante el gobierno anterior, altas autoridades especularon con la adquisición (o modificación) de una aeronave con propósito dual, en una configuración similar al sistema que desarrolla Airbus Military sobre la plataforma C295. Un radar de vigilancia y control del espacio aéreo sobre la dorsal de la aeronave y otro radar ventral con capacidad de percepción remota “look-down”. Sin embargo, a pesar de la idoneidad de este sistema, las Fuerzas Armadas peruanas no han mostrado gran entusiasmo por el avión C295.

El candidato natural sería uno de los dos tipos desplegados por la Fuerza Aérea Brasilera (FAB), el R-99A (radar Erieye de SAAB Microwave Systems) de alerta temprana aérea o R-99B (radar de apertura sintética, sistemas electro-ópticos y escaneo multi-espectral) de percepción remota, con la consiguiente fluidez operacional con la FAB en el sistema SIVAM de protección a la Amazonía.

Sea cual fuere la decisión final de la FAP, Esta sería la primera compra de un sistema dedicado de guerra electrónica.

podermilitar

AIRBUS MILITARY C-295 AEW LIKELY TO BUY BY VIETNAM AIR FORCE

To enhance the strength, the Vietnamese Air Force need to further strengthen the effectiveness, and captures the advantages of network electronic warfare, the Vietnamese Air Force also consider buying at least two early warning aircraft, reported that CASA EC-295 would be the most likely choice.

defense-studies