EADS, The Chilean Navy has purchased three (3) units of the EADS CASA maritime surveillance aircraft C-295 with an option for another five (5). They will be used to survey maritime areas of national interest and to safeguard human lives at sea.
EADS CASA has a very important presence in Latin America since late 70s. Twenty (20) operators in 16 countries from Chile to Mexico fly EADS CASA aircraft.
Chile has a very special significance for EADS CASA because it was the first export customer of the former CASA. The C-212 aircraft were the first to be purchased by Chile in 1978, and were first operated by the Navy and the Army. In the 80s, the Chilean Air Force purchased C-101s jet trainers, and later incorporated several C-212s in its inventory. The medium transport aircraft CN-235 was also purchased by Chile and operated by the Army since 1989. The three Forces operate EADS CASA aircraft, and their number has increased to make Chile one of the most important operators of EADS CASA aircraft in the world.
With these three new generation C-295s, EADS CASA has an order book of 58 aircraft to 8 different operators, 37 of which are already in service, accumulating more than 35.000 flight hours.
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The C-295 is a multipurpose aircraft that is used in humanitarian missions, deployment of rapid reaction forces and in maritime surveillance and homeland security worldwide. It is the answer to the expanded tactical capabilities required in today’s defence environment. Versatile, robust and with the lowest life cycle cost of any aircraft in its category, the C-295 fulfils the requirements of demanding customers who need a medium weight military transport aircraft with unique characteristics. Its excellent handling and high manoeuvrability allow safe and agile operations close to the ground for tactical missions at very low level.
The C-295 is the perfect complement of heavier airlifters such as the A400M and the C-130, since it can substitute them with advantage on a significant number of missions, being its operating costs only one third.
The C-295 in service today has demonstrated its qualities and autonomy of operation in the harshest conditions, over the deserts or in the most inhospitable polar regions, in operations of humanitarian aid, evacuation of catastrophe zones, or military ones such as those in Afghanistan within the framework of NATO operations.
The C-295s forms part of the inventories of a fast increasing number of countries becoming the medium tactical airlifter reference.
The C-295 for the Chilean Navy will be equipped with Fully Integrated Tactical System (FITS), and the most advanced equipment and systems. The FITS is a modern mission system fully designed and developed by EADS CASA that has been designed to successfully perform a large number of missions ranging from maritime surveillance and SAR to the most complex and sophisticated ones.
The FITS has been conceived to be flexible and modular and to be installed on different kind of platforms as well. It can integrate a wide variety of sensors. This great integration experience in maritime surveillance makes EADS CASA the benchmark worldwide.
With these C-295s equipped with FITS, the Chilean Navy will have a highly capable and proven integrated surveillance system.
This new order confirms once again the suitability and efficiency of EADS CASA platforms and shows the leadership in medium tactical airlifters and maritime surveillance markets.
EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2006, EADS generated revenues of EUR 39.4 billion and employed a workforce of about 116,000. The Group includes the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world's largest helicopter supplier Eurocopter and EADS Astrium, the European leader in space programmes from Ariane to Galileo. Its Defence & Security Division is a provider of comprehensive systems solutions and makes EADS the major partner in the Eurofighter consortium as well as a stakeholder in the missile systems provider MBDA. EADS also develops the A400M through its Military Transport Aircraft Division.
