[World] Airbus Positions C295 for Malaysian MPA Requirement

C-295W MPA [AIN] ☆

Airbus Defence and Space (DS) has positioned the C295 in maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) configuration for the Royal Malaysian Air Force's (RMAF's) maritime surveillance requirements, a company official told Jane's at the Langkawi International Maritime (LIMA) exhibition in Malaysia.

The variant is based on the C295 twin turboprop light tactical transport aircraft that is in use with operators such as the Bangladesh Army Aviation.

Although a formal procurement process has not been initiated, Jane's understands that the Malaysian government is considering the acquisition of between four and eight MPA platforms to either progressively replace, or complement the RMAF's existing fleet of Beechcraft B200Ts.

According to specifications provided by Airbus DS, the C295 can attain a range of up to 2,000 n miles with a 6-tonne payload and features an endurance of up to 11 hours. The platform can also be equipped with electro-optical and infrared sensors for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missions. To prosecute submarines, the platform can also be armed with torpedoes deployed via hard points beneath its wings.

"The aircraft is also flexible and can also be quickly re-configured for either military transport or maritime patrol roles", said Jose Luis Rey, a marketing manager at Airbus DS, in an interview with Jane's at LIMA 2017.

The RMAF was known to operate a fleet of four Beechcraft B200T airframes in MPA configuration, according to data from Jane's. However in December 2016, one of the aircraft crashed near the Butterworth airbase in Penang, killing a crew member onboard and injuring three others. 

  ☆ Janes