These twelve aircraft will replace the fleet of Aviocar C-212's, also supplied by CASA, which have been operating satisfactorily since the 1970's.

Seven (7) of the aircraft will have military transport configuration and five (5) will be equipped for maritime surveillance missions (VIMAR version). Of these latter, three (3) will have the FITS mission system entirely developed by EADS CASA. The VIMAR aircraft can also be rapidly adapted to the transport configuration.

The first aircraft will be delivered 18 months after the contract comes into force and from then on one approximately every one and a half months, until the total of 12 units is reached. Initially, the transport aircraft will be supplied and then the maritime surveillance ones.

The CEO of EADS CASA, Francisco Fernandez Sainz, declared that: "We are very proud that Portugal continues to place its trust in our aircraft. We still fondly remember that Portugal was the first operator of the extraordinary CASA C-212, which soon became a success throughout the world in terms of sales".

"The C-295, an aircraft that competes in the medium weight category, is destined to continue that success story, as both it and its smaller brother, the CN-235, have gained the confidence of an increasing number of operators in all five continents", added Fernandez Sainz.

EADS CASA will also provide "Full In-Service Support" for these aircraft, for a minimum period of 5 years.

Likewise, the industrial cooperation agreement between EADS CASA and the CPC (Permanent Counterparties Committee) was signed, by means of which EADS CASA will provide support to Portugal's aeronautical industrial development. The contract was signed by the Chairman of the CPC, Rui Neves.

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