On 22 May, Airbus announced it had sold two C295 medium tactical transport aircraft to Thailand. Once delivered, the pair will be flown by the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF).
These aircraft, to be operated by the RTAF’s 46th Wing from Phitsanulok Air Base, will join three other C295Ws already serving with the Royal Thai Army since being procured in 2016.
Airbus noted that the first of the two C295s will reach the hands of the RTAF in the initial half of 2029. They will be assembled at the Airbus Defence and Space facility in Seville, Spain.
In tactical transport configuration, the twin turboprop C295 can carry 70 passengers or 49 paratroopers.
A computer-generated image released by Airbus shows that Thailand’s new aircraft have winglets, signifying the RTAF selected the C295W. However, the image also shows some features not present on incumbent army C295Ws. There are antennas for VHF/UHF communications, as well as radar warning receivers on the nose. In addition, there is a rear-facing electronic support measures antenna.
Airbus stated it “contributes to the Thai defence industry through a partnership with Thai Aviation Industries (TAI) for their support in the maintenance of the C295 fleet through advanced training means”.
To date, Airbus has received 333 orders for the C295 from 39 countries. The global fleet has accumulated 750,000 flight hours thus far.
There are seven countries in the Asia-Pacific region that fly the C295. Brunei is one of those regional customers, and on 20 April it welcomed the final two of four C295MW aircraft it had ordered in December 2022.
India will be the largest C295 operator in the region, however, with Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus combining to establish a final assembly line in Vadodara in the Indian state of Gujarat. This facility was inaugurated in October 2024.
The first made-in-India aircraft from this facility is set to roll out in September, if not sooner. A total of 40 aircraft will be assembled there by 2031. Additionally, the Spanish plant is delivering the first 16 aircraft under the US$2.3 billion contract for 56 aircraft that was signed in 2021. The Indian Air Force has already received six of those aircraft.
The TASL-Airbus private partnership is important to India, for it breaks the monopoly that state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has maintained over military aircraft production for decades.
by Gordon Arthur
