On Tuesday, 11 November 2025, the European company Airbus Defence and Space (part of the Airbus Group) announced on social media that the first of eight C295 MSA (Maritime Surveillance Aircraft) maritime patrol aircraft for the Spanish Air and Space Force (Ejército del Aire y del Espacio) had completed its maiden flight.
Photo: Airbus Defence and Space
The aircraft, registered as EC-293, took off from the Airbus Defence and Space facility airfield in San Pablo near Seville, Spain, where it was completed on 31 July of this year. The aircraft has not yet received its final paint scheme, user markings, or specialized equipment.
It was reported that the first flight focused on checking onboard systems, paving the way for mission-system testing. Further ground and flight tests are planned before delivery in 2026.
To recap, on 20 December 2023, the Spanish Ministry of Defence ordered 16 C295 aircraft in the Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) Persuader configuration and the aforementioned Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) configuration. Under the original executive contract worth EUR 1.695 billion, the Ministry ordered 6 C295 MPA Persuader and 10 C295 MSA aircraft. However, on 1 August 2024, an annex to the contract was signed, reducing the number of C295 MSA aircraft by two and increasing the number of C295 MPA Persuader aircraft by the same amount — Spain will therefore receive eight aircraft of each version.
The contract also includes training systems (a Full Flight Simulator and Mission System Simulator) as well as initial logistical support.
The C295 MSA will replace the CASA/IPTN CN-235 VIGMA aircraft, which have been in service with the Air and Space Force since 2008 (eight for patrol and SAR missions and six for training). It will be equipped primarily for maritime and land operations such as combating smuggling, illegal immigration, and drug trafficking, as well as participating in national and international search-and-rescue missions. Interestingly, two aircraft in this variant will also be delivered to Angola, which ordered three C295s on 21 April 2022.
Image: Airbus Defence and Space
The new aircraft will enable the Ejército del Aire y del Espacio and the Spanish Navy (Armada Española) to strengthen their anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities, as well as expand and enhance their patrol, reconnaissance, and search-and-rescue (SAR) missions.
The C295 MPA aircraft will replace the Lockheed P-3 Orion fleet, two P-3A HW and four P-3M (modernized ex-Norwegian P-3B), which was retired at the end of 2022 after serving since 1971 at Morón Air Base. The new aircraft will be equipped for anti-submarine and anti-surface missions, as well as surveillance and reconnaissance operations. Like the Orions, they will be able to carry weapons such as torpedoes and others.
The MPA variant will feature extensive communications equipment, enabling interoperability with other platforms across different domains (maritime, land, air). The aircraft can serve as an airborne command-and-control post, giving the Spanish Armed Forces the versatility required for a wide range of missions.
Both variants will have a high degree of synergy. Spain already operates 13 Airbus C295 aircraft in the transport configuration (with further purchases planned). As noted, the ordered aircraft are assembled at the Airbus facilities in Seville. More than 40% of the structures of all C295 aircraft are produced at Airbus Poland’s facility in Warsaw-Okęcie (including outer wing structures, cargo doors, ramp, crew doors, parachute-drop equipment, and wiring harnesses). The site also hosts a C295 Service Center used by Poland and other operators.
It is worth recalling that on 30 July 2020, the Spanish government reached an agreement with Airbus to support the aviation sector during the COVID-19 pandemic through the purchase of a large number of aircraft and helicopters for the armed forces and public services. Among them was a commitment to acquire four C295 MPA.
First flight success! 🇪🇸 The first of 8 Airbus #C295 Search and Rescue aircraft (SAR) for @EjercitoAire has taken to the skies in Seville. ✈️
This first flight focused on flight system checks, paving the way for mission system tests. More flight and ground tests are planned… pic.twitter.com/931WozQYtF
— Airbus Defence (@AirbusDefence) November 11, 2025
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