Kazakhstan is to acquire two more Airbus C295 transport aircraft following the signature of a new contract with Airbus Defence and Space.
The agreement, which includes a spares and support package, covers the final two aircraft included in a memorandum of understanding signed in 2012.
Both aircraft will be delivered in the second half of this year and will take the Kazakhstan Air Defence Forces’ C295 fleet to eight and total C295 sales to 186, including 12 in the CIS.
The Kazakh Air Force operates four C-295. A memorandum of understanding has been signed for four more for a total of eight. Kazakhstan is to acquire two more Airbus C295 transport aircraft following the signature of the new contract with Airbus Defence and Space.
In 2012, EADS announced several enhancements to the base C-295 design, changes included the adoption of winglets and an ability to carry the Marte anti-ship missile; a dedicated airborne early warning and control variant was also planned. In November 2015, a C-295 successfully demonstrated a new self-protection suite, which incorporated elements such as directional infrared countermeasures from Elbit Systems and infrared passive airborne warning system.
In January 2016, Airbus was in the process of developing a new hose-and-drogue in-flight refuelling rig to be optionally installed in the centerline of the C295, this capability is being promoted for the aerial refuelling of combat helicopters, initial ‘dry’ flight tests are scheduled later in the year; Airbus is also performing flap optimisations and other modifications upon the type for extreme takeoff and vertical landing capabilities.
