Article Posted on : - Mar 20, 2015

The new C295 transport aircraft of Philippines Air Force. An Airbus Military photo

SEVILLE, SPAIN (BNS): The Philippines Air Force has taken delivery of the first of its three Airbus C295 medium transport aircraft from Airbus Defence and Space.

The aircraft was formally handed over in Seville, Spain where the final assembly line is located and is now being ferried to the Philippines, Airbus announced on March 18.

The new aircraft will play a key role in the modernization of the Philippines Air Force's transport fleet, and undertake a wide variety of military and humanitarian missions, it said.

Philippines had awarded the contract to Airbus in Feb. 2014 to acquire the three C295 platforms.

The remaining two C-295s are scheduled to arrive next year.