Maiden flight of Spain's first C295 SAR
A major milestone for Spain's Search and Rescue (SAR) capabilities as the first of eight new Airbus C295MSA-W aircraft for the Ejército del Aire y del Espacio (EdAE, Spanish Air and Space Force) completed its industrial first flight in Seville on 11 November 2025.
The initial testflight lasted around two hours and thirty minutes. It focused on flight systems, paving the way for further trials, including mission system checks, before the final delivery of this airframe (test serial EC-293) is planned for 2026.
On 20 June 2023, the Spanish government cabinet approved a nine-year payment plan to finance the acquisition of sixteen new C295W aircraft, divided over eight C295W as a Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) and eight as a Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA).
The new C295 Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA), which will replace the CN235 VIGMA fleet, will be operated by the 46th Wing at Gando Air Base on the Canary Islands.
That the new C295 is based on the earlier CN235 design simplifies the transition to the new version, optimising training, maintenance, and logistics. Airbus has emphasised that this similarity will reduce operating costs and accelerate the full availability of the new search and rescue capability.
Assembled in Seville, the C295 remains the undisputed leader in its segment with more than 310 orders from all over the world.
Credit photo: Airbus Defence and Space, by Adrian Molinos