Serbia receives second and final C295 airlifter

Serbia received its second and final Airbus C295 airlifter on 14 November, seen here at Batajnica in its temporary Spanish delivery markings. (Serbian MoD)

The second of the two Airbus Defence and Space C295MW (Modernised, Winglets) transport aircraft ordered by Serbia was delivered to Milenko Pavlović Air Base at Batajnica on 14 November, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced.

Ordered on 23 February 2022 the aircraft is part of a wider effort to modernise the Serbian Air Force and Air Defence (Ratno Vazduhoplovstvo i Protivvazduhoplovna Odbrana: RV i PVO) fixed-wing transport component.

The delivery came about eight weeks after the first aircraft was flown into the same location on 25 September. This first aircraft officially joined the 138th Transport Squadron on 12 October and is now regularly used for daily crew familiarisation flights.

Lieutenant Colonel Goran Brkić, the commander of the 138th Transport Squadron, told Serbian media that the air force received the C295s in their basic configuration for the transport of cargo, personnel (including paratroopers), and aeromedical evacuation. A VIP module was also received.

These C295s will replace two Yugoslav-era Antonov An-26 ‘Curl' airlifters, providing approximately 50% more payload while consuming approximately 50% less fuel.