Airbus Defence and Space has conducted the first engine ignition for the initial C295 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) ordered by Spain. This step precedes the aircrafts rollout from the final assembly line at the companys San Pablo facility in Seville.
The C295 MPA forms part of a 1.695 billion euro contract signed in December 2023 for 16 aircraft, split evenly between eight MPA variants for maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare and eight Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) for vigilance, reconnaissance, and search and rescue missions. The MPAs will equip the Spanish Navy, replacing the retired P-3 Orion fleet, while the MSAs will support the Spanish Air and Space Force 802 Squadron at Gando Air Base, succeeding CN-235 VIGMA platforms in service since 2008.
Assembly of all aircraft occurs in Seville. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2026. The program includes full-flight and mission system simulators plus initial logistical support.
Recent progress in the related MSA/SAR variant saw its first aircraft, serial number 239, complete a 2-hour-24-minute maiden flight from Seville on November 11, validating basic airframe and mission systems. Further tests will integrate full sensor suites, including the Fully Integrated Tactical System with radar, electro-optical/infrared turret, AIS, and radiogoniometer.
The C295 platform features Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127G turboprops, Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion avionics, up to 13-hour endurance, and a 8-ton payload capacity, supporting diverse roles from SAR to anti-submarine operations across the Atlantic, Strait of Gibraltar, and western Mediterranean.