On 16th November 2023, the Serbian Air Force and Air Defence (Ратно ваздухопловство и противваздухопловна одбрана Војске Србије) officially received its second Airbus C295 medium tactical transport aircraft.
A short handover ceremony took place at Colonel Pilot Milenko Pavlović air base in Batajnica. Similarly as in case of the first C295 example, it was attended by the country´s highest military authorities, including the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Miloš Vučević.
The event was also the opportunity to discuss the first impressions on the C295 service with the Serbian Air Force. Both the aircrew and ground technicians shared their initial experiences from operational service and training they attended in Sevilla, Spain – the city where Airbus C295 aeroplanes are being manufactured.
Last year, Serbia ordered two Airbus C295 medium tactical transport aircraft as part of comprehensive programme of modernization of the country´s air force. The purchase deed, worth 81 million EUR, was signed in February of 2022 and included delivery of the two C295s aircraft to Serbia, together with additional equipment needed for everyday operations, and crew training services.
In late September of 2023, the first Serbian C295 was ready and successfully completed the 2,335-kilometre-long flight from Sevilla to Batajnica. On 12th October the aircraft was officially introduced into service, receiving its military registration ´29501´. The second C295 was registered ´29502´, respectively.
Acquirement of the modern medium tactical transport aircraft means a significant improvement of the Serbian Air Force airlift capabilities. The new aeroplanes will succeed so far the only medium cargo aircraft of the Serbian armed forces – the An-26 ´71386´, manufactured in 1975 (check our article from 2019 for full history of that aeroplane).
Similarly to the above mentioned An-26, the Serbian C295s will be based in Batajnica and operate within the 138th Transport Squadron (138. мешовита транспортна авијацијска ескадрила) of the 204th Air Brigade.
All photos © Министарство одбране Републике Србије / MoD Republic of Serbia. MoD press releases were used.
