Airbus modernizará y mantendrá los aviones C295 y A330 MRTT del Ejército por 1.400 millones

Airbus will modernize and maintain the C295 and A330 MRTT aircraft of the Army for 1.4 billion euros, as announced by the government in yesterday's Council of Ministers meeting. This program will focus on upscaling and enhancing the air and space platforms of the Army's air force. The contract's contractor will be Airbus, the manufacturer of both models, with various industrial capabilities in Spain for these platforms.

The A330 MRTT is a tanker aircraft; in August of the previous year, the government approved a 5.4 billion euros framework agreement for joint acquisition with Poland of this model. This joint acquisition will occur under the SAFE (Europe's Security Action) instrument. Airbus will open a conversion center for the A330 MRTT in Sevilla later next year to handle the growing global demand for tanker aircraft.

This new center will join the one in Getafe, increasing the annual number of civil aircraft converted into military versions from five to seven. It is also planned that Sevilla will carry out maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) work for these types of aircraft, as well as updates to the A330 MRTT in service. Regarding the C295, it is a tactical transport and reconnaissance military aircraft assembled in Sevilla.

In its military transport configuration, it can carry 70 soldiers or 49 parachutists, take off and land on unprepared runways, drop supplies and parachutists, and perform medical evacuations. The government ordered the purchase of 18 C295s in their military transport configuration at the end of 2025, replacing the CN235 and C212.

The contract value, including other aspects, is estimated at up to 1.56 billion euros. The acquisition last year added to the 2023 purchase of 16 C295s in their reconnaissance and maritime surveillance configurations. When these deliveries are completed, the Army and Space Air Force will operate a fleet of 46 Airbus C295 in various configurations.