Brazil has exercised a contract option that will lead to it operating a three-strong fleet of Airbus Defence & Space C295 search and rescue (SAR) aircraft by 2020.

Signed at the end of last year, the update "constitutes the firming of an option included in an earlier contract in 2014", the European airframer says. The previous commitment was for two of the adapted twin-turboprops – the first of which, registered 6550, was handed over in June 2017.

Brazilian air force C295 SAR - Airbus Defence & Sp

Airbus Defence & Space

"The second C295 SAR will be delivered in 2019, and the third in 2020," Airbus Defence & Space confirms. The company has already supplied the Brazilian air force with 12 examples assigned for medium transport duties, with Flight Fleets Analyzer showing 11 of these as in current operational use.

Source: FlightGlobal.com