Airbus Military launches C295W aircraft with enhanced performance

Airbus Military today announces the launch of a new series of its best-selling C295 medium transport and surveillance aircraft – the C295W.

Featuring winglets and uprated engines as standard, the new model will provide operators with enhanced performance in all flight phases but is particularly aimed at those operating at  “hot and high“ airfields where payload increases in excess of 1,000kg are promised.

In intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) roles such as airborne early warning (AEW) the enhancements will increase endurance by 30-60min and permit an operating altitude up to 2,000ft higher than now.

The new features will also provide an overall reduction in fuel consumption of around 4% depending on configuration and conditions.

The C295W, assembled in Seville, Spain, is being offered to the market from now on and will be the standard version of the aircraft in all versions from the fourth quarter of 2014. Certification is expected in 2Q14.

Airbus Military is committing to the C295W following flight-trials with winglets fitted to its company development aircraft which showed positive results for a weight penalty of only around 90kg.

The engines are the Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127 turboprops which power all versions of the C295. New procedures recently certified by Canada and Spain permit operation in the climb and cruise phases at higher power settings at the discretion of the operator. As well as improved hot and high performance, the procedure improves operation over very high terrain such as the Andes or Himalaya mountains with only a minor influence on maintenance cost.

Airbus Military Head of Programmes, Light & Medium, and Derivatives, Rafael Tentor said: “The C295 has consistently been the market leader in all sectors in which it is offered. By investing in continuous development of the aircraft we are committed to maintaining its leadership through the introduction of substantial operating benefits. We very much look forward to discussing the C295W with existing and prospective customers.”

About C295

The new generation C295 is the ideal aircraft for defence and civic mission to the benefit of society, such as humanitarian actions, maritime patrol, and environmental surveillance missions, amongst others. Thanks to its robustness and reliability, and with simple systems, this medium sized tactical airlifter provides wide versatility and flexibility, necessary for personnel, troop and bulky/palletized cargo transportation, casualty evacuation, communication and logistic duties or certified air-dropping capabilities. Its mix of dual technology civil/military equipment ensure success on demanding tactical mission, growth potential for future equipment as well as compatibility with the latest civil airspace environment. The C295 is part of Airbus Military’s family of light and medium airlifters which also include the smaller NC212i and CN235 platforms.

A400M and C295W to be pitched to New Zealand

The eventual retirement of the RNZAF’s C-130Hs will see Airbus Military pitch the A400M and newly-launched C295W to the New Zealand government.

Announced at its annual briefing to trade media, Airbus Military said while it views New Zealand as a longer-term proposition, it is confident the two aircraft could fill the gap to be left by the ultimate retirement of the RNZAF’s five C-130Hs and indeed enhance the nation’s airlift capabilities.

Airbus Military was upbeat about the potential its new products could offer, and will embark on initial discussions within an undisclosed period, believed to be in the nearer-term to seed the products as potential candidates.

One observer at the briefing noted the C295 could also provide a pragmatic solution to New Zealand’s future maritime patrol needs when the Orions fall due for replacement. Airbus Military is offering the C295W as both a tactical airlifter and maritime patrol aircraft.

The last of the RNZAF C-130Hs to undergo a 15-year life-extension was re-delivered only in February this year, five years later than expected, under a program that was originally approved in 2003.

Airbus Military’s advance campaigning comes as it readies to launch the A400M into service in the coming weeks. The manufacturer’s head of programs, Rafael Tentor, who was A400M project head, said it had been “a long and winding road” to get to this point of delivery, but the A400M was “now the right aircraft at the right time”.

French army expects first A400M airlifter by July 14

The French army hopes to receive its first Airbus A400M military transport aircraft in time for the country's annual Bastille Day celebrations on July 14, a Defence Ministry spokesman said on Thursday.

The aircraft, which is about five years behind the original schedule, is also expected to win certification for military use in time for the biennial Paris Air Show starting on June 17, Pierre Bayle said.

The head of EADS unit Airbus Military, Domingo Urena-Raso, confirmed that this timetable was "absolutely reasonable," adding that he expected a total of four deliveries this year, 10 next year and 21 the following year.

France will be the first of the seven nations behind the 20 billion euro ($25.7 billion) project to take delivery of the European military transport and heavy cargo plane. Germany is due to receive its first A400M at the end of 2014.

France has ordered 50 of the planes, and Germany 53. The other countries involved are Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Turkey and Britain.

"Delivery before July 14 would enable a French crew to pilot the French plane above the parade," Bayle said, referring to the traditional Bastille Day military procession.

Airbus Military had said earlier this year it expected to deliver the first of the airlifters to France in the second quarter.

The four turboprop-engine A400M can carry a helicopter, two armoured vehicles or 116 paratroopers. It can land on short, gravel airstrips, making it suitable for transporting troops and equipment to theatres such as Mali or Afghanistan.

The plane has been hit by delays and billions of euros of cost overruns that led to a multinational bailout.

"The A400M got off to a bit of a bumpy start, to say the least, but it's making good progress," Urena-Raso said, adding that there were "no signs" that any of the nations planned to reduce their orders.

He said he hoped the aircraft would fly at the Paris Air Show, adding it had been performing very well in test flights.

U.K. Airbus A400M Airlifter Costs Exceed Plan by $1.2 Billion

The Airbus Military A400M airlifter for the U.K. is now running over budget by 770 million pounds ($1.2 billion), according to the British Ministry of Defence. 

There is also a cost overrun on a Thales SA (HO) Watchkeeper drone program and a Northrop Grumman Corp. (NOC) electronic system for aircraft, Philip Dunne, a minister for defense, told Parliament in written answers to questions. 

The U.K. is acquiring 22 A400M transports to replace Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT) C-130s, a program running 73 months behind plan, the National Audit Office said. The airlifter is scheduled to enter service with the Royal Air Force in 2015. Lead customer France should get its first plane by the middle of this year. 

“Project performance can be affected by a number of reasons, not all of which are in the contractor’s control,” Dunne said. The increases are against the ministry’s total cost baseline, and not contracts with the companies, he said. 

Airbus SAS and countries funding the development of the A400M restructured the program in 2010 to address cost increases and schedule delays. The U.K. trimmed its purchase to 22 units instead of 25 as part of the review. 

The Watchkeeper unmanned aircraft program for the army is 57 million pounds above estimate and Northrop Grumman’s aircraft identification beacon is 6 million pounds above projections, Dunne said.

Atlas - New planes with an extra lift

Pilots Aircraft: Malaysian Air Force No. 2 impressed with the A400M Atlas, which will start service in 2015

Deputy Royal Malaysian Air Force chief Lt Gen Datuk Roslan Saad (left) giving the thumbs up to the A400M Atlas after a test flight in France yesterday. With him is Ed Strongman, Airbus Military chief test pilot.

Deputy Royal Malaysian Air Force chief Lt-Gen Datuk Roslan Saad recently tested the nation's next-generation transport aircraft in France.

Following the test flight, which took place in Toulouse, the country's second highest ranking military pilot gave the thumbs up to the Airbus Military A400M airlifter, which was recently given the codename Atlas.

"It is an enormous pleasure to fly the aircraft that is going to be at the heart of the RMAF's transport capabilities in the future.

"It is a real 'pilot's aircraft' and I look forward to seeing it enter service so that we can apply its capabilities on a wide variety of missions," said Roslan.

The government is expected to take delivery of the first aircraft in January 2015.

The agreement to buy the A400Ms was first highlighted in December 2005. A few days later, a memorandum of understanding for the procurement of four aircraft for the RMAF was signed between the government and Airbus Military.

The negotiations also centred on making the Malaysian aerospace industry a partner in the A400M programme.

Along with the deal for the aircraft, Airbus Military also signed a RM907 million agreement in designing and manufacturing composite A400M airframe parts with Composites Technologies Research Sdn Bhd.

Larger than the C-130 Hercules transport plane, which is currently used by the RMAF, the A400M was purchased to boost the RMAF's capabilities to transport cargo and troops. It has a length of 43.8m with a wingspan of 42.4m and a height of 14.6m.

It is a multi-role military tactical airlifter built to compete with other aircraft companies in replacing the ageing fleets of Hercules and C-160 Transall planes in air forces around the world.

With a payload of 37 tonnes, the A400M can carry twice the load of the Hercules. It is capable of conducting strategic operations, tactical missions and delivering fuel.

The aircraft has a high-flotation landing gear which allows take-offs and landings on short, unpaved airfields. This is crucial in battlefield conditions where the aircraft can land on semi-prepared airstrips with less than 1km of runway.

A total of 174 aircraft had been ordered by Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Spain, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

The aircraft programme, however, had been plagued by problems that caused customers to receive their planes late. The RMAF was supposed to take delivery of its first plane next year.

Indonesia has taken delivery of two Airbus Military C295 aircraft

Indonesia has taken delivery of two Airbus Military C295 transport aircraft ordered in February this year. The aircraft are the first of nine to be delivered to the Indonesian Ministry of Defence under the terms of a contract signed by  Airbus Military and PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PT DI).

The delivery took place in the Airbus Military San Pablo site in Seville, where the C295 final assembly line is located, at a ceremony attended by the Indonesian Vice Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. (ret) Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, and Airbus Military Vice President Head of Programmes Light & Medium and Derivatives, Rafael Tentor.

The aircraft will be operated by the Indonesian Air Force and known in service as the CN295. It will perform a wide variety of roles including military, logistical, humanitarian and medical evacuation missions throughout the huge territory of Indonesia, which includes around 17,000 islands. The delivery of the ninth and last aircraft ordered is scheduled for summer 2014.

Rafael Tentor said: “The delivery of these aircraft is an important step in Airbus Military´s collaboration with the Indonesian aerospace  industry and we greatly look forward to increasing our level of co-operation in the years ahead.” To date, Airbus Military has sold 114 C295s. After the entry in service of these aircraft there will be 88 C295s in operation in 15 countries all over the world.The attached photograph shows the delivery ceremony held in Seville.

About C295

The new generation C295 is the ideal aircraft for defence and civic mission to the benefit of society, such as humanitarian actions, maritime patrol, and environmental surveillance missions, amongst others. Thanks to its robustness and reliability, and with simple systems, this medium sized tactical airlifter provides wide versatility and flexibility, necessary for personnel, troop and bulky/palletized cargo transportation, casualty evacuation,

communication and logistic duties or certified  air-dropping capabilities.  Its mix of dual technology civil/military equipment ensure success on demanding tactical mission, growth potential for future equipment as well as compatibility with the latest civil airspace environment. The C295 is part of Airbus Military’s family of light and medium airlifters which also include the smaller C212 and CN235 platforms.

Colombia orders another Airbus Military C295

Colombia has signed a contract with Airbus Military for the acquisition of an additional C295 aircraft in a tactical transport configuration. Delivery is scheduled for February 2013.

The aircraft will be operated by the Colombian Air Force on military transport and humanitarian aid missions.

This new C295 will strengthen the capability of the Colombian Air Force by joining the fourstrong C295 fleet that the CAF has been operating since 2008. The CAF also operates three Airbus Military CN235-200 transport aircraft.

“We are very proud of this  repeat contract with Colombia  which clearly demonstrates the satisfaction of our customer with our aircraft”, said Antonio Rodríguez-Barberán, Senior Vice President Commercial. “This  latest  order  underlines Airbus Military´s leadership in this segment after achieving more than 100 orders worldwide”, he added.

This new deal means that 114 C295s have now been ordered, with 86 currently in operation in 14 countries.

About C295

The new generation C295 is the ideal aircraft for defence and civic mission to the benefit of society, such as humanitarian actions, maritime patrol, and environmental surveillance missions, amongst others. Thanks to its robustness and reliability, and with simple systems, this medium sized tactical airlifter provides wide versatility and flexibility, necessary for personnel, troop and bulky/palletized cargo transportation, casualty evacuation, communication and logistic duties or certified  air-dropping capabilities.  Its mix of dual technology civil/military equipment ensure success on demanding tactical mission, growth potential for future equipment as well as compatibility with the latest civil airspace environment. The C295 is part of Airbus Military’s family of light and medium airlifters which also include the smaller C212 and CN235 platforms.

Airbus Military C295 MPA carries MBDA MARTE MK2/S Anti-ship Missile for first time

Airbus Military and MBDA have successfully completed the first flight of the C295 maritime patrol aircraft with an instrumented Marte MK2/S anti-ship inert missile installed under the wing. The flight was the first of a series of trials planned in a joint Airbus Military – MBDA collaboration to validate the aerodynamic integration of Marte on the C295. Subsequent flights will include handling qualities testsand aircraft flight performance tests.

This initiative successfully aligns with the Defence industry strategy shared by MBDA in Spain and Airbus Military. 

Airbus Military and MBDA have successfully completed the first flight of the C295 maritime patrol aircraft with an instrumented Marte MK2/S anti-ship inert missile installed under the wing. The flight was the first of a series of trials planned in a joint Airbus Military – MBDA collaboration to validate the aerodynamic integration of Marte on the C295. Subsequent flights will include handling qualities testsand aircraft flight performance tests.

                         

The MBDA Marte MK2/S missile is a fire-and-forget, all-weather, medium-range sea-skimming anti-ship weapon system, equipped with inertial mid-course guidance and radar homing terminal guidance, and capable of destroying small vessels and heavily damaging major vessels. The missile has a weight of 310 Kg and is 3.85 m long.

In the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) role, the C295 is already in-service carrying the MK42 torpedo.

The Marte Mk2/S is already integrated on the AW-101 and the NFH-90 naval helicopters.

Europe’s troop plane hits new engine glitch

The French Senate voices worries over the army plane A400M’s engine problems

France’s Senate on July 5 voiced concerns over engine problems and spares shortages on the A400M as its maker Airbus said it had pulled Europe’s flagship army plane from the flying roster at next week’s Farnborough Airshow.

Airbus said it had dropped the A400M’s wheeling and steeply slanted flying display for the second year in a row after engine problems.

A Senate panel said after studying delays and overruns in Europe’s largest arms project that problems with the aircraft’s huge turboprop engines should be kept under close surveillance, but it did not expect further slippage in deliveries.

The panel also issued a warning of the risks caused by a lack of funding for spares to support the troop and cargo carrier once it enters service next year, following four years of delays.

“We must not have a situation where budget restrictions on spares throw the whole programme into doubt,” said Jean-Louis Carriere, president of the Senate’s foreign affairs commission, outlining a report on Europe’s effort to build its own airlift capacity to support military and humanitarian operations.

The A400M cost 20 billion euros ($25 billion) to develop and is designed to add airlift capacity for seven European NATO nations: Britain, Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain and Turkey.

It has suffered a series of teething problems with its engines, the largest turboprops ever built in the

West, leading to billions of euros in cost overruns.

Polish Air Force to become largest C295 operator

The Polish Air Force today  signed a contract with Airbus Military for the acquisition of  five C295 transport aircraft to further expand their transport capabilities. Deliveries will start end of this year and continue into 2013.

The aircraft will join the existing C295s currently in service, increasing the fleet to 16 aircraft, and will be used to support the Polish Air Force in its national and international operations.

“The C295 is working extremely well with the Polish Air Force and we are proud to have a further vote of confidence from our customer with this new order for a further five aircraft. We have a very close relationship with Poland also through our Polish subsidiary and we look forward to further expand our footprint in Poland”, said Domingo Ureña Raso, CEO of Airbus Military. “This order also underlines our leadership in this segment with over 110 orders of which 27 orders were placed this year.”

This now brings to the total orders for the C295 to 113, with 85 currently in operation with 13 countries.

About C295

The new generation C295 is the ideal aircraft for defence and civic missions to the benefit of society, such as humanitarian actions, maritime patrol, and environmental surveillance. Thanks to its robustness, reliability and simple systems, this medium sized tactical airlifter provides the versatility and flexibility necessary for personnel, troop and bulk or palletized cargo transportation, medical evacuation, communication and logistic duties, and certified air-dropping capabilities. Its mix of dual technology civil/military equipment ensures success in demanding tactical missions, growth potential for systems development, as well as compatibility with the latest civil airspace requirements. The C295 is part of Airbus Military’s family of light and medium airlifters which also includes the smaller C212 and CN235.

About Airbus Military operations in Poland

PZL Warszawa Okecie, was acquired by Airbus Military (then EADS CASA) in 2001. It has two sites, Warsaw and Mielec, employing 620 people.

The industrial activities range from the design and manufacturing of light trainer aircraft to the manufacturing of subassemblies for the Airbus Military CN235 and C295, and wiring harnesses for several commercial Airbus types. Specifically, it produces the outer wings for the Airbus Military C295 as well as the cargo doors, the ramp and the doors for the pilot, paratroopers and passengers on the CN235 and C295. This workshare has been recently increased with the assembly of the nose section for those aircraft, making the company the largest supplier to these programmes.

In November last year, Airbus Military also opened a new MRO Service Centre dedicated to the repair and servicing of Airbus Military C295 aircraft. This is Airbus Military’s second service centre in Europe, adding to the capabilities of its centre in Seville, Spain. The newly opened facility will perform the full scope of repair and service work for C295 airlifters operated by the Polish Air Force and other operators and potential clients in Europe and  worldwide.