The Spanish Air Force and Space Army is preparing the first three Airbus C295 MSA (Maritime Surveillance Aircraft) for flight, advancing the replacement of its aging CN-235 VIGMA fleet. These aircraft form part of a December 2023 contract worth 1.695 million euros for 16 C295s, split evenly between eight MSA variants for search and rescue (SAR) and maritime surveillance missions, and eight MPA (Maritime Patrol Aircraft) variants equipped for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, ISR, and torpedo deployment.
The initial C295 MSA completed production at Airbus facilities in Seville last year, conducted its maiden flight shortly after, and entered mission system certification. Assigned primarily to Ala 46 at Gando Air Base in Gran Canaria, it will bolster SAR operations, maritime traffic control, counternarcotics, and migrant surveillance in the Canary Islands, succeeding CN-235s from Alas 35, 46, and 49.
Deliveries of the MSA series are set to commence in 2026, with the MPA variants filling the gap left by the retired Lockheed P-3 Orion fleet from 2023. The new platforms feature updated sensors, communications, and mission architecture for both maritime and land operations. Personnel from Gando visited the Seville plant in January to inspect the lead aircraft and review simulators.
Separate contracts include 18 additional C295s for the Navy to replace C-212 and CN-235 aircraft, though these fall outside the Air Force MSA program.