Airbus has released a concept image of a C295W aircraft in Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) livery. (Airbus)
Thailand has contracted Airbus to supply the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) with two Airbus C295 aircraft in a tactical transport configuration.
Airbus Defence and Space said on 22 May that first delivery is scheduled to take place in the first half of 2029. The company added that the aircraft will be operated by the RTAF’s Wing 46 at Phitsanulok in central Thailand.
Thailand already operates the platform, with the Royal Thai Army (RTA) having acquired three C295W aircraft from 2016 for cargo and troop transport operations. The C295W variant differs from earlier versions of the platform in that it is equipped with winglets as a standard feature.
Airbus concept imagery of the RTAF-bound aircraft appears to show the C295W variant but includes features not present on the three C295Ws in service with the RTA. New features include antennas for very/ultra high frequency (V/UHF) communications as well as radar warning receivers (RWRs) on the nose. The imagery also indicates that the aircraft will be equipped with a rear-facing electronic support measures (ESM) antenna.
In transport configuration, the C295 has capacity to carry 70 troops or 49 paratroopers and to take off and land on unprepared runways, according to Airbus. The company added that the aircraft is capable of cargo and paratrooper drop roles, in addition to medical evacuation.
The C295 aircraft will be assembled at the Airbus Defence and Space facilities in Seville, Spain.
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