The Airbus C295 has emerged as the final bidder for a contract to supply three tactical transport aircraft to the Philippines.
In an email to Flightglobal, Airbus Defence & Space confirms its selection.
“The selection of the Airbus C295 by the Philippine Department of National Defence is a strong endorsement of the C295, which is the clear market leader in its segment and clearly the best value for money solution,” the company says. “We look forward to continuing our discussions with the [defence department] and hope to achieve a positive contract award soon.”
The other competitors for the requirement were Indonesia’s PTDI, which pitched the smaller CN235-220, and Alenia Aermacchi, which promoted its C-27J. Airbus says its C295 pitch was entirely separate from PTDI’s offer.
For a country of its size and population, the Philippines' air force is desperately short of transport aircraft. According to Flightglobal’s MiliCAS database, it operates just three Lockheed Martin C-130B/H aircraft, two Fokker F27s, and two smaller turboprop aircraft.
Source: FlightGlobal.com