Following its integration within Airbus in April, Airbus Military now also oversees the production of the light and medium transport products of the former EADS Casa, plus upgrade and tanker programmes.
The company's San Pablo site near Seville, Spain, is dominated by its A400M final assembly line, but there is also a 14,000m² (150,700ft2) hangar to complete C-212, CN-235 and C-295 airframes.
Inaugurated in mid-January to assemble up to 24 aircraft a year, but with space to grow this to 35, the latter has increased capacity by 25% over the maximum possible using the previous build hall. Four assembly stations are used, with a fifth dedicated for modernisation activities.
Portuguese air force C-295s are being assembled, and CN-235s are in build for Botswana and US company L-3 Communications. There is a backlog to build a combined five C-212s for Thailand and Vietnam, and the Czech Republic last month signed for four C-295s, to be delivered from late this year.
Work was due for completion in late May on the first maritime patrol example of the C-295 for Portugal, carrying a palletised version of the EADS Casa-developed fully integrated tactical system mission suite. The scaleable system is also being integrated on to Lockheed Martin P-3 Orions for Brazil, with its first of nine modified aircraft having flown in April.
Major activities are also occurring in the tanker sector, despite Washington's cancellation last year of a US Air Force deal to buy modified Airbus A330-200s. The type remains EADS's intended offering for a revived KC-X contest. Flutter testing of its advanced boom refuelling system has concluded recently.
The work was performed using Australia's first of five A330-based multi-role tanker transports, which has also recently undergone receiver trials with a French air force Boeing KC-135, and for the first time passed fuel from its under-wing hose and drogue refuelling pods.
Meanwhile, the UK's first of 14 A330s to be modified as Future Strategic Tanker Aircraft will soon arrive in Getafe, near Madrid, for preparation for air-to-air refuelling tasks.
Source: Flight Daily News
