Airbus Military delivers the first CN235-300 MPA for Colombia
July 29, 2010
The Colombian Navy has received its initial CN235-300 MPA (Maritime Patrol Aircraft), which will join two CN235-200 MPAs already in operation with the military service.
Colombia has significant experience with Airbus Military’s family of dependable and highly capable tactical transports: the Colombian Air Force currently utilises four C295s and three CN235s.
The country’s new CN235-300 MPA is qualified to carry out military surveillance operations such as economic exclusion zone monitoring, fishery patrol and maritime interdiction – as well as civil missions, including search and rescue.
This aircraft is equipped with Airbus Military’s Fully Integrated Tactical System (FITS) – which presents data gathered by a comprehensive battery of sensors to the two tactical operators and two pilots in an intuitive and usable format.
The CN235-300 MPA’s sensor suite includes a search radar which can locate and track ships, as well as an automatic identification system and infrared camera for capturing imagery. The aircraft also is capable of producing digital video recordings of missions for subsequent playback and review.
As with the longer-fuselage C295 version proposed for Canada’s Fixed Wing Search and Rescue mission, Airbus Military’s CN235 offers high manoeuvrability and excellent qualities for low-altitude flying. With a maximum cruise speed of 240 kts., it also can carry up to six tonnes of payload.
A total of 202 CN235s have been sold to 31 customers to date, which includes 32 MPA versions and additional aircraft upgraded from a previous military transport configuration.
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