The Royal Thai Air Force has acquired two Airbus C295 in tactical transport configuration that will enhance Thailand’s defence capabilities. The two C295s will be operated by the 46th Wing Division of the Royal Thai Air Force from the Phitsanulok air base. Thailand already has three C295s operated by the Royal Thai Army, performing cargo and troop transport missions since 2016.
The aircraft will be assembled at the Airbus Defence and Space facilities in Seville, Spain, with the first delivery scheduled in the first half of 2029. The C295s in transport configuration have the capacity to carry 70 troops or 49 paratroopers, take off and land on unprepared runways, perform cargo and paratrooper drops, as well as undertake medical evacuation.
Airbus contributes to the Thai defence industry through a partnership with Thai Aviation Industries (TAI) for their support in the maintenance of the C295 fleet through advanced training means. Thailand is one of the seven countries in the Asia-Pacific region that operates the C295. As the global leader in its segment, the C295 holds 85% of the market share with a total of 333 orders from 39 countries across four continents. To date, the global C295 fleet has achieved 750,000 flight hours.
Airbus Helicopters demos multi-domain capabilities
Airbus Helicopters and the Spanish Navy successfully completed a tactical flight trial earlier this month in Rota, Spain. The exercise integrated the offshore patrol vessel Rayo with a Spanish Navy H135 helicopter and two different uncrewed aerial systems, the Airbus Flexrotor and Alpha Unmanned Systems´ A900 using the HTeaming solution.
The exercise validated the real-time control of the drone and sharing of imagery between uncrewed systems, helicopters, and naval vessels to establish a multi-domain operational link. This capability allows the ship to access critical information from areas far beyond its own sensor range directly at the combat station.
During the trials, both uncrewed platforms performed take-offs and landings from the moving vessel. A pilot inside the H135 managed the drones during flight using the HTeaming tablet, which proved to be agnostic by successfully integrating the Alpha Unmanned Systems´ A900 . The demonstration consisted of a simulated high-speed boat chase during an ISTAR maritime operation, where the Flexrotor and Alpha 900 tracked the target and transmitted live footage to both the helicopter and the ship. The data was integrated into NAIAD (Naval Advanced Integrated Autonomous Vehicles Defence system), Navantia’s tactical integration system for unmanned vehicles, enabling command, control and interoperability of aerial, surface and underwater systems within SCOMBA, the Spanish Navy’s combat management system developed by Navantia.
“Airbus Helicopters is committed to exploring new frontiers in crewed-uncrewed teaming that brings real added value to customers,” said Fernando Lombo, Managing Director of Airbus Helicopters in Spain. “The close collaboration between pioneering companies such as Airbus, Navantia, and Alpha Unmanned Systems, combined with the trust of public entities like the Spanish Navy, shows our shared potential to strengthen Europe’s role as a sovereign leader in defence. By working together, we are proving that we can deliver the innovative technology necessary to secure a leading position on the global stage.”
The H135 crew managed the uncrewed platforms using the HTeaming tablet, Airbus Helicopters’ modular crewed-uncrewed teaming solution. This system empowers crews with full control over UAS in flight, allowing for the integration of uncrewed sensors into crewed operations to improve mission efficiency. In parallel, data from the UAS was processed through the Helicopter Integrated Tactical System, a tactical console developed by Airbus that acted as a bridge to the vessel. This ensured the information was compatible with the NAIAD/SCOMBA combat system.
Future developments will continue to build on this success by exploring drone swarm technology and further enhancing the integration between air and sea assets, as well as land transport.
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