The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) has ordered two Airbus C295 tactical transport aircraft, expanding Thailand’s fleet of the twin‑turboprop airlifter. The deal adds to existing C295 operations in the country, where the Royal Thai Army already flies the type in a utility transport configuration.
According to Airbus, the C295 is a medium tactical transport designed for roles including troop and cargo transport, medical evacuation, maritime patrol, surveillance and reconnaissance, and other special missions. The aircraft can carry up to eight tonnes of payload or as many as 70 troops, and is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127G engines. It has a maximum cruise speed of about 260 knots and can operate at altitudes up to 30,000 ft while maintaining good low‑level performance.
The Thai order forms part of a broader regional uptake of the C295. Airbus data indicates that 25 aircraft have been ordered in the Asia‑Pacific region, and more than 300 orders have been placed worldwide. The RTAF’s acquisition is intended to strengthen its fixed‑wing airlift capacity for national defense and support missions, complementing other transport and rotary‑wing assets already in service.