TSAMTO, February 1st. The Aviation Service of the National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan (KNB RK) has placed an order for the third C-295 military transport aircraft from Airbus Defense and Space.
As reported by Infodefensa.com The contract for the purchase of the third aircraft was signed on January 31 at the headquarters of Airbus Defense and Space in Seville (Spain). The publication recalls that 9 C-295 units were previously purchased for the Air Force of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
According to Airbus Airbus Defense & Space, the new order was received after the recent delivery of the second C-295 for the Air Service of the National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan, acquired in early 2023, and "underlines the satisfaction of the operator with this multi-purpose tactical transport aircraft and related services."
"The first C-295 for the Air Service of the National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan was delivered in 2020 and has already flown for almost 2,000 hours in day and night conditions in the most difficult weather conditions," the company noted.
Recall that Kazakhstan became the first customer of Airbus Airbus Defense & Space aircraft in the CIS. In March 2012, Airbus Military signed a contract with Kazspetsexport, a state-owned company owned by the Ministry of Defense of Kazakhstan, for the supply of two C-295s, as well as a related package of logistics, spare parts and ground equipment. At the same time, a memorandum of understanding was signed on the possibility of purchasing 6 additional C-295s. In October 2013, Airbus Military signed the first contract with Kazspetsexport for the supply of two additional C-295s under the memorandum. Subsequently, additional contracts were signed, which increased the total order to 8 units. The first two aircraft were transferred to the Kazakh Air Force on January 15, 2013, and the eighth at the end of 2017. All aircraft were made in the C-295M version.
On August 11, 2023, Dmitry Fedorchenko, Chief of Staff of the Main Armament Department of the Air Defense Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan, informed Sarbaz about the next (ninth) aircraft in the new version C-295MW that entered service in military unit 19132.
On March 21, 2019, Airbus Defense & Space announced the signing of a contract with the Border Service of the National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan for the supply of one medium-sized BTA aircraft in the C-295MW version (approx.TSAMTO: apparently, it is now part of the Air Service of the National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan, reorganized in November 2022). The new C-295 in the transport configuration is used for border control and internal security. As follows from the Airbus press release, the second C-295MW was purchased in early 2023 and was delivered "recently".
In the summer of 2021, Kazakhstan also completed the purchase of two A-400M Atlas heavy military transport aircraft with Airbus (approx.CAMTO: according to available information, the contract has not yet entered into force).
The C-295 medium tactical transport aircraft is designed for transporting troops and cargo, parachuting and landing, and medical evacuation. The vehicle provides the ability to deliver up to 9.2 tons of cargo to the destination, 71 servicemen or 48 paratroopers, or 24 wounded on stretchers with medical personnel.