Egyptian Order Rises to 20 C-295M Air Transports
July 16/14: +8 C295s. Airbus has a new top customer for their C295 aircraft:
“Egypt has ordered eight more Airbus C295 transports in a deal which will take its fleet to 20 and makes it the biggest customer for the market-leading tactical airlifter. The new batch of aircraft will be delivered to the Egyptian Air Force by Airbus Defence and Space beginning next year and will follow the 12 aircraft previously ordered, of which six are already in service. The contract also includes a service support package for spares, training, and maintenance of the fleet.”
Price has never been disclosed for these contracts. Sources: Airbus, “Repeat order makes Egypt biggest C295 customer”.
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In addition to its larger AN-74 and C-130 military transports, Egypt also operates a small fleet of very old DHC-5 Buffalo aircraft, which need replacing. Canada’s Viking Air has a notional design for an modern DHC-5NG re-launch, but it has no customers and no prototype yet. The EAF wanted a more standard product, which left it with 4 plausible options: Airbus Military’s C295, Alenia’s C-27J Spartan, Antonov’s AN-32, or Xian’s Y-7H.
Egypt chose to become a new Airbus Military customer, and they’ve been adding to their fleet ever since.
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July 16/14: +8 C295s. Airbus has a new top customer for their C295 aircraft:
“Egypt has ordered eight more Airbus C295 transports in a deal which will take its fleet to 20 and makes it the biggest customer for the market-leading tactical airlifter. The new batch of aircraft will be delivered to the Egyptian Air Force by Airbus Defence and Space beginning next year and will follow the 12 aircraft previously ordered, of which six are already in service. The contract also includes a service support package for spares, training, and maintenance of the fleet.”
Price has never been disclosed for these contracts. Sources: Airbus, “Repeat order makes Egypt biggest C295 customer”.
Egypt
Jan 16/12: +6 C295s. Airbus Military receives a 3rd order from Egypt, for 6 more C295s. As has been true throughout, the contract’s value is not disclosed. This batch of aircraft, plus their associated spares and support equipment, training and field support, are to be delivered from the end of 2013 onwards. Once they all arrive, the EAF will have 12 C295s in their fleet.
Note that this information implies a 2nd, unannounced order for 3 aircraft – either placed after September 2011, or as an exercised (but unmentioned) option on the original contract.
With the collapse of the USA’s Joint Cargo Aircraft program, the C295 is the clear leader among Western light tactical transports, though it remains behind the AN-32 in overall global sales. Airbus Military says that 90 aircraft are currently serving in 15 countries. Orders on the books that will bring the total to 121 planes and 17 operators, 7 of whom have placed repeat orders. Airbus Military.
Sept 23/11: 1st delivery. The Egyptian Air Force (EAF) takes delivery of its 1st Airbus Military C295, ahead of contract schedule. The other 2 aircraft are to be delivered during the last quarter of 2011. Sources: EADS.
Oct 29/10: 3 C295s. Airbus Military announces an Egyptian Air Force (EAF) contract for 3 of its C-295M light tactical transport planes. Price was not mentioned, but based on past contracts, a figure of EUR 75-90 million is likely. Deliveries will begin in 2011, and Airbus Military contends that:
“The Egyptian Air Force selected the C295 because of its ease of maintenance and proven operational capabilities, especially in desert areas. Furthermore, its versatility and adaptability to the most varied type of conditions and operations were another key element in the selection of the Airbus Military C295.”
The EAF is a new customer for Airbus Military’s wares. With respect to the C295 family, Egypt’s order raises the type’s book to 85 planes ordered by 13 countries, including Egypt’s near-neighbors Algeria and Jordan. .
