The Spanish Council of Ministers approved the budget for the acquisition of new C295 maritime surveillance aircraft for the Spanish Air and Space Force.
According to the newspaper La Vanguardia, what the Government approved is the financial scenario that will allow the launching of the projects to renew the maritime surveillance aircrafts of the Spanish Air and Space Forces.
The news was announced by the Secretary of State for Defense, Amparo Valcarce, during her visit to the Paris Air Show 2023, and publicly celebrated by Jean-Brice Dumont, director of Airbus Defence & Space.
We welcome the decision taken by the Spanish Ministers Council and announced during #ParisAirShow for the budget approval for the acquisition of 6 #C295MPA and 10 #C295MSA. A very strong signal of commitment by our customer towards its national defence industry. pic.twitter.com/9Ya57d09Tl
— Jean-Brice Dumont (@JeanBriceDumont) June 20, 2023
The Spanish Ministry of Defense plans to purchase six C-295 MPA (Maritime Patrol Aircraft), to replace the already retired P-3 «Orion» in its maritime patrol, ISR, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare missions; as well as 10 C295 MSA (Maritime Surveillance Aircraft) to replace its veteran CN-235 in maritime surveillance, EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) control and search and rescue (SAR) tasks.
The operation had already been anticipated during Airbus Trade Media Briefing 22. The company and the Spanish General Directorate of Armament and Material were finalizing definitions and the purchase contract was expected to be signed during the first half of this year.
