Serbian Air Force Receives The First C-295 Military Cargo Aircraft From Airbus
The Serbian Air Force (Ратно ваздухопловство и противваздухопловна одбрана Војске) received the first C-295 military transport aircraft from European aircraft manufacturer Airbus. The delivery in question took place under the terms of a contract signed in February 2022 between Airbus and the Serbian Ministry of Defense.
The $91 million contract includes the delivery of two C-295 military cargo aircraft to the Serbian Air Force, which will be outfitted with the modern avionics suite Collins Aerospace Pro Line Fusion. The agreement, which includes intergovernmental oversight from the Spanish and Serbian defense ministries, also includes the supply of relevant pilot equipment and training services for the aircraft. The project’s second and final aircraft, which is currently being built at Airbus’ production facility in Seville, Spain, is scheduled to be delivered to the Serbian Air Force in 2024.
The new C-295 aircraft will replace the Serbian Air Force’s Soviet-era Antonov An-26 aircraft, which were produced in 1975 and have undergone dozens of modernizations to date but do not meet the requirements of the time. The new aircraft, which are expected to be operated by the 138th Transport Squadron units stationed at Batajnica Air Base, northwest of Belgrade, will contribute to the improvement of the Republic of Serbia’s air transportation capabilities.
The C295 is a versatile tactical transport aircraft that is used by more than 30 countries, including the air forces of Spain, Poland, Canada, Portugal, and the Republic of Ireland. It is capable of a wide range of missions, including troop and cargo transport, maritime patrol, aerial warning, surveillance and reconnaissance, signal intelligence, armed close air support and medical evacuation, VIP transport, and aerial firefighting.
The C295 has a maximum cruising speed of 260 kts and is powered by two modern Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127G twin turboprop engines. The aircraft can carry up to nine tons of cargo, or 71 troops, and has a maximum takeoff weight of 23,200 kg and a range of 5,630 kilometers. The C295, which has retractable landing gear and a 12.69-meter-long pressurized cabin, can cruise at altitudes of up to 30,000 feet and fly for up to 13 hours. This aircraft’s landing gear separates it from the Antonov An-26 aircraft in the Serbian Air Force, allowing it to take off and land on difficult and short runways.