NEWTOWN, Conn. -- Images of the United Arab Emirates' first C-295W have emerged.
On October 10, 2018, the publication Scramble posted an image on its social media page of the first C-295W for the UAE. The aircraft was seen on October 2 on a runway in Seville, Spain, at manufacturer Airbus' facility. The aircraft carries the serial number '820'. Another image that emerged on jet spotters' websites shows the aircraft undertaking a test flight ahead of delivery.
The UAE signed a contract for the procurement of five C-295Ws last year, in November. These, according to Defense News, likely cost the UAE around $250 million. In a press release after the contract's signing, Airbus noted, ""Deliveries will begin in the fourth quarter of 2018."
Once in service, the C-295Ws will replace older CN-235s in the Emirati Air Force.
The aircraft will bolster the UAE's lift capabilities. A fact sheet on Airbus' website notes that the C-295 has a range of 2,000 nautical miles with a 6.0 ton payload and has the capacity to stay up to 11 hours in the air. In recent years, the UAE has expanded its mission profile into Yemen and East Africa, increasing the Air Force's need to be able to move equipment and personnel.
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