On Thursday, July 31, 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 reconnaissance aircraft for the Spanish Air and Space Force (Ejército del Aire y del Espacio) has been completed.
Image: Airbus Defence and Space
The C295 MSA has rolled off the final assembly line at the Airbus Defence and Space facility in San Pablo near Seville, Spain, and has entered the development and certification testing phase in preparation for its first flight, which is scheduled to take place before the end of the year. The aircraft has not yet received its final paint scheme or the markings of its future operator, nor has it been fitted with its specialized equipment.
On December 20, 2023, the Spanish Ministry of Defence ordered 16 C295 aircraft in the configurations of Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) Persuader and the discussed Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA). Under the initial contract, valued at 1.695 billion EUR, the Ministry of Defence in Madrid ordered six C295 MPA Persuaders and ten C295 MSAs. However, on August 1, 2024, an amendment to the contract was signed, reducing the number of C295 MSAs by two and increasing the number of C295 MPA Persuaders by the same amount – Spain will now receive eight aircraft of each version.
The contract also includes the delivery of training systems (Full Flight Simulator and Mission System Simulator) and initial logistical support.
The C295 MSA will replace the CASA/IPTN CN-235 VIGMA aircraft, which have been in service with the Spanish Air and Space Force since 2008 (eight used for patrol and SAR missions, and six for training). It will be primarily equipped for maritime and land-based operations such as combating smuggling, illegal immigration, and drug trafficking, as well as for participation in national and international search and rescue missions. Interestingly, two aircraft in this variant are also expected to be delivered to Angola, which ordered a total of three units on April 21, 2022.
New milestone achieved! ✔️
The first C295 Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) for Spain has rolled-out from our Final Assembly Line in Seville 🇪🇸 and has entered the development and certification testing phase towards its first flight, scheduled before the end of the year.This… pic.twitter.com/Fc0EmVOJFZ
— Airbus Defence (@AirbusDefence) July 30, 2025
The new aircraft will enable the Spanish Air and Space Force (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 the capabilities of their patrol, reconnaissance, and search and rescue (SAR) units.
The C295 MPA aircraft will replace the fleet of Lockheed P-3 Orion maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft, two P-3A HW and four P-3M (modernized former Norwegian P-3Bs), which were retired at the end of 2022 after being in service at Morón Air Base since 1971. These new aircraft will be equipped for missions against submarines and surface vessels, as well as for surveillance and reconnaissance tasks. Like the Orions, they will be able to carry weapons such as torpedoes and other munitions.
The MPA variant will be richly equipped with communication systems, enabling it to operate jointly with other platforms across multiple domains (maritime, land, and air). The aircraft may serve as an airborne command and control center, providing the Spanish Armed Forces with the versatility required to carry out a broad range of missions/
Both variants will benefit from a high degree of synergy. Spain already operates 13 Airbus C295 aircraft in a transport configuration. The newly ordered aircraft will be assembled at Airbus facilities in Seville. Over 40% of the structural components for all C295 aircraft are produced at Airbus Poland’s facility in Warsaw-Okęcie, including the outer wing structures, cargo doors, rear ramp, crew cabin doors, as well as paratrooper drop systems and electrical harnesses. The site also hosts the C295 Service Center, which supports aircraft operated by Poland and other users (Talks at the Ministry of Defence with the CEO of the European Airbus Group).
It is worth recalling that on July 30, 2020, the Spanish government reached an agreement with the Airbus Group to support the aviation sector during the COVID-19 pandemic by purchasing a large batch of aircraft and helicopters for the armed forces and public services. Among these, the acquisition of four C295 MPAs was declared.