Airbus brings a military transport to the show

European aerospace giant Airbus has previously taken part in MAKS exhibitions. But this time around, the company has brought a military product to Zhukovsky. Airbus Military is demonstrating the EADS CASA C295 light military transport here at the show. "We are displaying the C-295 in Russia because it may prove a very useful aircraft for this country," regional sales director for CIS Alvaro Piedra told Show Observer. "It is ready to go into service, forming the fundament of our future partnership."

Piedra says the twin-engined VTOL turboprop can be used in both military and civilian roles. It transports up to 9 t. of freight or 71 troops at a maximum cruise speed of 480 km/h, and can operate from unprepared, short, soft or rough runways.

C295 production began in 2001. About 90 of the type are operated in 17 countries, seven of which have placed follow-up orders. The aircraft being demonstrated at Zhukovsky belongs to the Spanish Air Force. The CIS launch customer is Kazakhstan, which received its first two examples in January this year; the remaining six aircraft on order will be delivered from 2014.