The Czech Air Force has received the second of two additional CASA C295MW airlifters it ordered from Airbus in December 2019.
The aircraft landed at the Prague–Kbely airport on July 28 and is expected to immediately start operations, which will include the transport of soldiers, material, as well as medical missions.
The service’s sixth airlifter was delivered in the new C295MW version (M standing for modernized and W for winglet), which features winglets in order to be able to transport more payload over larger distances in the hot and high conditions.
The first four airframes, which entered service in 2010 as a replacement for the Czech Antonov An-26 aircraft, will also be upgraded to the C295MW configuration.
Delivered from Airbus Defense and Space’s Seville, Spain, facility, the Czech airlifters have a maximum transport capacity of up to 66 personnel or 46 fully equipped airborne troops.
Previously produced by Construcciones Aeronáuticas SA (CASA, a Spanish aircraft manufacturer that is now part of Airbus Defence and Space), the C295’s production takes place at Airbus’ facility in Spain. In addition to troop transport and patrol missions, the C295 can also be delivered in special versions such as gunship (close air support to ground troops, convoys, facilities, etc.) and optional self-protection equipment including cockpit armor, radar warning (RWR), missile warning (MAWS), laser warning (LWS), and chaff/flares dispensers.
