AIRBUS MILITARY BRINGS ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO THE C295 PROGRAMME
May 26, 2009
The C295 will benefit from the production and service expertise of a world-leading aircraft manufacturer with integration of the former EADS Military Transport Aircraft Division (MTAD) as an Airbus business unit.
The new Airbus Military’s activities range from the development and integration of aircraft and specific military systems to global support and services for customers and operators. Headquartered in Spain, Airbus Military also will guide the industrialisation, marketing and sales for its product line.
This new structure enables increased efficiency for military programmes on organisational and management levels – with additional benefits that include a better allocation of resources, and the opportunity for full operational synergy during the development and industrial stages.
In addition to its responsibility for the C295 – which is being offered for Canada’s Fixed Wing Search and Rescue (FWSAR) replacement programme – Airbus Military is now in charge of all EADS military transport aircraft, ranging from the tactical C212 and CN235, to the A330-based Multi-role Tanker Transport (MRTT) and the A400M multi-role airlifter.
Airbus Military's smallest aircraft - the family of C212, CN235 and C295 tactical transports - have earned their reputation as rugged, highly capable airlifters in service around the world. They are used in missions that include cargo transport, search and rescue, special operations, maritime patrol, military and governmental airlift and other applications.
The business unit’s A330 Multi-role Tanker Transport is an advanced military platform for aerial refuelling, as well as the airlift of cargo and troops, and is based on the Airbus A330-200 civil jetliner. This aircraft has won the recent international competitions for next generation tanker/transports, having been selected by the U.K. Royal Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. In addition, the A330 MRTT was chosen by the U.S. Air Force for the recapitalisation of its ageing tanker/transport fleet.
Rounding out the Airbus Military product line is the A400M - a multi-role airlifter specifically designed to meet the harmonised needs of European NATO nations, as well as the requirements of international air forces. The high-speed, turboprop-powered A400M was developed to replace ageing C130 Hercules and C160 Transall fleets currently in service around the world, and features more than twice the payload capacity and volume of these two aircraft.
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