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Kazakhstan has taken delivery of the first two C295 transport aircraft that it ordered last year, marking Airbus Military´s entry into the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) regional market.
The aircraft, the first two on firm contract and a further six on options to be progressively confirmed in the coming years, were formally handed over in Sevilla before the ferry flights, via Astana, to Almaty, where they will be based.
They were earlier technically accepted in Seville by a combined team of Kazspetsexport, the Kazakhstan Ministry of Defence, and the Kazakhstan Air Forces.
Both aircraft will be used in support of transport missions throughout the nation´s vast territory. The purchase contract additionally covers the related service support package for spare parts and ground support equipment.
Airbus Military senior vice-president commercial, Antonio Rodríguez-Barberán, said: We greatly appreciate the high level of professionalism and strong commitment shown by the relevant Kazakh institutions in ensuring the smooth and mutually rewarding execution of this agreement. It is a great pleasure to welcome the Air Forces of Kazakhstan into the worldwide family of C295 operators and we are committed to providing the required level of support for our new customer for many years to come.
Airbus Military has also received an order for six additional C295 transport aircraft from the Egyptian Air Force, bringing the Egyptian Air Force’s C295 fleet to a total of 12 aircraft. This third batch of aircraft plus the associated spares and support equipment, training and field support are to be delivered from the end of 2013 onwards.
The Egyptian Air Force selected the C295 because of its proven versatility, robustness and efficiency for its daily transport missions combined with the ease of maintenance and low cost of operations.
This order reinforces the C295’s position as the best-selling airlifter in this category, with a total of 121 C295s sold to 17 operators. Seven of them have placed repeat orders for C295 aircraft, confirming the trust our customers place in the aircraft for medium airlift. With more than 90 aircraft in service today in 15 countries, the C295 has accumulated more than 120,000 flying hours in the most demanding conditions, from extreme cold weather to hot desert areas.
A repeat order from a loyal customer is extremely valued by Airbus Military and the trust that the Ministry of Defence of Egypt is placing in us confirms that we offer a product that responds to our customer’s needs. We will ensure that we live up to this mark of confidence and stand by our customer as a trusted partner for many years to come, said Antonio Rodríguez Barberán, Airbus Military senior vice-president, commercial. The C295 is exactly the kind of workhorse required for current and future airlift missions, and the most cost-efficient complement to heavy transport aircraft.”
