The Royal Thai Air Force has placed a firm order for two Airbus C295 tactical transport aircraft, the European manufacturer announced on May 22, 2026, with first delivery scheduled for the initial half of 2029.
The two aircraft will be assembled at the Airbus Defence and Space facility in Seville, Spain. Both will be operated by the 46th Wing Division of the Royal Thai Air Force from Phitsanulok air base in northern Thailand.
The contract sees an extension of the C295’s existing footprint in Thailand. The Royal Thai Army has operated three C295s for cargo and troop transport missions since 2016, meaning that the new order broadens the type’s presence across services, rather than introducing it from scratch.
Tactical transport configuration
Both new aircraft will be delivered in tactical transport configuration, which can, according to Airbus, carry 70 troops or 49 paratroopers, operate from unprepared runways, and perform cargo and paratrooper drops as well as medical evacuation missions. The twin-turboprop’s short-field performance has been a recurring selling point in Asia-Pacific markets that prioritize dispersed basing and humanitarian airlift in remote terrain.
The deal also extends an existing industrial partnership with Thai Aviation Industries, which supports maintenance of the in-country C295 fleet and provides advanced training services.
Thailand is one of seven operators of the C295 within the Asia-Pacific region. The largest regional commitment remains India’s 56-aircraft contract as signed in September 2021, which combines Seville-assembled airframes with local production by Tata Advanced Systems in Vadodara.
Ireland completed its three-aircraft order in October 2025, while orders continue to accumulate elsewhere across Europe, Africa, and Latin America.
Airbus noted that the C295 currently holds 85% of the market share in its segment, with 333 orders from 39 countries across four continents, and a global fleet that has logged 750,000 flight hours.
