Seville, Spain. 27 May 2026 – The Royal Thai Navy has recently finalized a contract for the acquisition of two Airbus C295 aircraft, which are configured for advanced transport operations. These aircraft will enhance the Navy’s capabilities in surveillance and Search and Rescue missions, alongside supporting logistical operations across Thailand.
This latest order complements a previous contract with the Royal Thai Air Force for two additional C295s and adds to the fleet of three C295s currently in operation with the Royal Thai Army, which have been engaged in cargo and troop transport missions since 2016. The Airbus C295 has established itself as the tactical transport aircraft of choice for the Royal Thai Armed Forces.
The newly ordered C295s will operate from the U-Tapao air base in Sattahip and will feature an Electro-Optical/Infra-Red (EO/IR) sensor suite. This advanced system will allow the aircraft to detect, classify, and identify targets both at sea and on land, ensuring effective operations under various conditions, including day and night.
Assembly of these aircraft will take place at the Airbus Defence and Space facilities in Seville, with the first unit set to be delivered by the end of 2028.
In total, there have been 90 C295 aircraft ordered by seven countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The C295 holds a dominant position in the market, capturing 85% of the segment with 335 orders from 39 countries worldwide. The global C295 fleet has collectively achieved an impressive milestone of 750,000 flight hours to date.
Source: Airbus Defence and Space (2026-05-26)
