Spain has moved to consolidate its light tactical airlift fleet after ordering 18 Airbus C295 aircraft, marking a significant step in modernizing training and airborne operations. According to Airbus, the aircraft will replace legacy CN235 and C212 platforms used by the Spanish Air and Space Force for pilot training and paratrooper missions. The acquisition supports Spain’s efforts to maintain day-to-day military readiness while ensuring continuity in troop mobility and airborne instruction.
The selected C295 transport configuration is designed to handle routine personnel transport, cargo missions, and intensive airborne training sorties. Airbus highlights the aircraft’s ability to carry 50 paratroopers or up to 70 troops, perform both manual and automatic parachute drops, and operate from short or unprepared runways. With a maximum payload of eight tonnes and endurance extending to 13 hours, the aircraft is well suited for long training cycles and flexible operational tasking across Spain’s air bases.
Deliveries will be structured around two specialized training centers to maximize operational efficiency. The first batch will be assigned to the Military Air Transport School at Matacán Air Base, with deliveries scheduled between 2026 and 2028, replacing CN235 aircraft used for pilot training and transport duties. A second batch will support advanced airborne training at the Military Parachuting School in Alcantarilla, with deliveries planned from 2030 to 2032 to replace C212 aircraft. Airbus emphasizes that the program strengthens Spain’s domestic aerospace sector, as all C295 final assembly is conducted at its Seville defense facility.
