CASA C-212 Aviocar

    Notes: This is a Spanish transport for both military and civilian uses, in use by a large amount of countries all over the world.  The basic version is the C-212, and they get progressively bigger and more capable. First flight was in March 1971, and the Aviocar was designed initially to replace the outmoded Junkers Ju-52s and Douglas C-47s the Spanish Air Force was using in the late 1960s. The Aviocar entered Spanish Air Force service in 1974, and first civilian examples were delivered in 1975. Construction began in Spain by CASA, but in 1975 IPTN in Indonesia negotiated a license to produce the Aviocar, and by 2006, IPTN became the only source of parts and new Aviocars. (Indonesian C-212s are designated NC-212.) The C-212-200 is in use by US SOCOM as the C-41A; the C-41A was also in use in Iraq and Afghanistan by PMC Blackwater. The C-212 is popular with skydivers and smoke jumpers due to its rear ramp which can be opened in flight. The C-212 is currently used by some 35 military operators.

     The C-212 is a turboprop-powered STOL cargo aircraft which also has civilian airline versions. It is characterized by its boxy fuselage with a high-mounted wing and tall tail. The rear fuselage has side doors for paratroopers and a rear ramp, a rarity in such a small cargo aircraft; there is also a door for crew entry on the front left side. The fuselage is not pressurized, limiting its service ceiling. The Aviocar has been designed for austere environments without a lot of ground support or hardened runways. The engines are self-starting with a small onboard APU. The wings are narrow but wide, and are fitted with high-lift devices such as double slotted flaps and leading-edge slats.

    The base model is the C-212A (also known as the C-212-100); this model has a pair of Honeywell TPE331-5-251C turboprop engines developing 840 horsepower each. The C-212-200 is stretched and is powered by a pair of TPE331-10R-511C turboprop engines developing 900 horsepower each. The C-212-300 has further upgraded TPE331-10R-513C engines, also with an output of 900 horsepower each. The vertical stabilizer was also slightly enlarged, and winglets were added to the tips of the wings. The nose is stretched and more aerodynamic, and houses a cargo compartment. Avionics have been upgraded, including the addition of an autopilot. The C-212-400 is powered by TPE331-12JR-701C engines developing 925 horsepower each.  The nose houses upgraded avionics instead of cargo. The NC212i is an improved Indonesian C-212-400, with uprated engines developing 970 horsepower each. The SH-89 is an antisubmarine version of the C-212-200, with an extended nose for search radar, sonar, ECM, and SIGINT gear. It is used primarily by the Swedish Air Force (the base C-212-200 is designated the Tp 89 by the Swedish), but also built by the Indonesians as the NC-212-200 MPA (Maritime Patrol Aircraft).

     The C-212 may carry a 1000-liter auxiliary fuel tank in the fuselage or a pair of 750-liter auxiliary fuel tanks. The wings have a pair of hardpoints, but these may only be occupied by 500-liter fuel tanks.

CASA C-295

     Notes: The CASA C-295 (now Airbus C295) is an improved version of the CN-235 listed in International Cargo Aircraft.  It was developed by CASA in the 1990s, and the launch customer was the Spanish Air Force in 1999. Currently, Egypt is currently the largest user of the C-295, with 21 in their air force, though India currently has eight and plans to add 12 per year for a few years.  License production is undertaken in Indonesia by IPTN and India by Tata. The C-295 has seen combat service in Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The C-295 has a modular cargo bay and can be rapidly reconfigured for passengers, paratroops, medevac, or cargo. Ground crew and equipment requirements are minimal and the C-295 is at home in austere environments. The C-295 is in use by military forces, civilian airlines and cargo companies, and by relief organizations.

     The C-295 is a stretched version of the CN-235 with more powerful engines. The fuselage is long and slender and the wingspan likewise long.  The wings also have several STOL and low speed refinements such as double slotted flaps and leading-edge slats. It can move 50% more cargo with the same range as the CN-235, and can go a little faster and higher as well. The landing gear has an autoreverse capability, and is able to turn 180 degrees on the ground on a runway as narrow as 12 meters. The landing gear can take the stress of operating from soft, grassy fields as well as hardened runways. The avionics are advanced, including an autopilot, weather radar, and the HIAS (Highly Integrated Avionics System). The avionics allow the aircraft to function within civil aviation rules as well as military rules. The C-295 is powered by a pair of Pratt & Whitney Canada PW127G turboprop engines, delivering 2645 horsepower each. These engines are coupled to six-bladed propellers with composite scimitar-shaped blades. The engines have a modular design easing maintenance and upkeep. The wings have hardpoints, and have been integrated with a wide variety of air-to-ground ordnance.

     There are a number of variants and projected variants of the C-295. The AEW&C variant is a relatively inexpensive AWACS-type aircraft incorporating a 360-degree radar in an external saucer dome on the roof of the fuselage, and allows functions similar to that of the E-2 Hawkeye carrier-borne early warning aircraft. The SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) variant conducts radio and radar surveillance and electronic reconnaissance. The MPA variant (Maritime Patrol/Antisubmarine) is a reconnaissance patrol and antishipping/antisubmarine aircraft with devices to hunt and kill enemy shipping and submarines. It has been tested with several antishipping missiles, including the Harpoon, Exocet, and Marte, as well as bombs, rockets, torpedoes, and depth charges.  For a short time in the early 2000s, the C-295 was studied for possible conversion to a gunship, similar to the AC-235. Indian C-295s have extra EW equipment. The C-295 ISR variant is equipped with machineguns, antitank missiles, and bombs and rockets on its hardpoints. The KC-295 is an aerial refueling tanker variant; it will not be further detailed here.