EADS CASA (now Airbus Defence and Space) supplied more than 483 C-212 aircraft to 92 operators worldwide, including the Spanish and Portuguese Air Forces, by the end of 2016. The aircraft have accumulated a total of almost three million flight hours. The C212 Series 400 is the latest version of the 1t to 3t class transporter aircraft, and the first flight of the aircraft took place in 1997. It was accredited with Spanish certification in 1998.
The C-212-400 aircraft can carry out an eight-hour patrol and cover a distance of 1,000nm. The aircraft has excellent low-speed and low-altitude manoeuvrability for surveillance missions and dissuasion operations, and is also optimised for operation in high-altitude and high-temperature climatic conditions.
In November 2006, EADS signed an agreement with Indonesian Aerospace (IAe) to carry out the final assembly at facilities in Bandung and Indonesia. The facilities are capable of producing one C-212-400 a month.
The agreement was modified in 2008 to shift the entire C-212-400 production from Spain to Indonesia. The first firm order for IAe produced C212-400 was received from Airfast Indonesia in February 2009.
C-212-400 orders and deliveries
Two aircraft have entered service in the Air Force of the Republic of Suriname (formerly Dutch Guyana) for patrol of the country’s exclusive economic zone.
Two C-212-400 military transport aircraft are in service with the Dominican Air Force to meet defence operative requirements, and for military support for humanitarian missions.
EADS CASA signed an agreement with the Paraguay Air Force in May 2003 to supply one C-212-400 transport aircraft. The Paraguayan Air Force received the aircraft in January 2004.
The Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has ordered three C-212-400 Patrullero maritime surveillance aircraft, two of which have been delivered. The aircrafts are deployed for the surveillance of the fishing fleet in Spain’s jurisdictional waters and international fishing grounds operating over large areas from the Iberian Peninsula, the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands.
In June 2003, two C-212-400 aircraft were bought by Australian company Skytraders for operation in the Antarctic for the transportation of Australian troops and supplies. The two aircraft were delivered as of January 2009.
The Mexican Navy ordered eight C-212-200 aircraft for maritime patrol. The first two were delivered in July 2004. The aircraft are fitted with Raytheon SeaVue radar, EADS CASA fully integrated tactical system (FITS), and FLIR Systems SAFIRE II thermal imager.
Two transport aircraft were ordered by the Ecuadorean Army Aviation. The first was delivered in March 2005, the second was delivered in January 2006.
The South Korean Coastguard has ordered one C-212-400 for maritime patrol and surveillance.
In August 2006, the C-212-400 was selected for the Brazilian Air Force’s light tactical transport requirement. Up to 50 aircraft are required for delivery between 2007 and 2015.
In November 2006, EADS CASA signed an agreement with PT Dirgantara of Indonesia for the licensed production of the C-212-400. The first IAe produced C-212-400 aircraft was scheduled for completion in 2011 but not yet been delivered as of December 2011.
The Thailand Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC) received its first C-212-400 of two aircraft ordered in May 2011. The second aircraft is scheduled for delivery in 2012.
The first of the three C-212-400 aircraft ordered by the Vietnam Marine Police was delivered in August 2011. Deliveries were completed by January 2013.
Flight deck
The flight deck accommodates a crew of two. The aircraft is equipped with a new avionics suite including electronic flight instruments (EFIS) with four CRT displays, an integrated engine data system (IEDS) with two colour liquid-crystal displays and a warning indication system.
The avionics system of the Series 400 aircraft has been relocated to the nose for improved maintainability. The systems include a Rockwell Collins voiceover recorder (VOR)/instrument landing system (ILS), VHF omni-directional radio ranger, linked to the ILS; an automatic direction finder navigation aid (ADF); distance measuring equipment (DME); radio altimeter; an automatic flight control system developed by Honeywell; a marker beacon receiver supplied by Dorne and Margolin of New York; and a Fairchild flight data recorder.
The 400 series also has a global positioning receiver incorporated in the flight management system. The communications suite includes a Rockwell Collins VHF radio, an air traffic control transponder and an internal communications system.
The C-212 400 series is equipped with a Rockwell Collins weather radar.
Weapons
Machine guns or rocket pods can be mounted on hardpoints on the port and starboard sides of the fuselage that are each rated to carry a maximum load of 250kg.
Engines
The 400 series aircraft are fitted with a new version of the TPE-331 turboprop engine which maintains the take-off power under high-altitude and high-temperature climatic conditions. The two Honeywell TPE-331-12JR engines each provide a take-off power of 925shp (690kW). The Dowty Rotol R.3414-82 propellers are 110in in diameter, four-blade constant speed, fully feathering and reversible pitch. Four integral wing tanks carry 1,600kg of fuel.
The single pressure refuelling point located under the leading edge of the starboard wing in the 300 Series aircraft has been repositioned to the starboard main wheel fairing in the Series 400 to provide easier on-ground operations.
Cabin
In the paratroop and troop transport role, the cabin is fitted with 25 inward facing seats. For medical evacuation the cabin accommodates 12 stretchers in four groups stacked three high and four medical attendants.
The aircraft can carry a payload up to 2,950kg. For cargo handling the aircraft is equipped with an optional 1,000kg cargo winch, roller loading and unloading system and a barrier net. The aircraft has the capability of aerial delivery by high-altitude delivery (HAD) and delivery by low-altitude parachute extraction system (LAPES).
The aircraft is capable of accommodating two 88in×54in pallets and can also be used to transport a single large load such as a fighter aircraft engine.
Soundproofing has been installed in the cabin of the Series 400 aircraft, which is also heated and ventilated. Air-conditioning is optionally fitted.
C-212-400 Patrullero maritime patrol aircraft
The C-212-400 can be configured for maritime patrol, with mission workstations and two observer stations in the main cabin. A 360° scan search radar is fitted in a radome on the underside of the fuselage on the Patrullero version of the aircraft. The ventral installation of the radar eliminates the distinctive platypus nose radar, which provided a 270° scan in earlier versions of the Patrullero.
The maritime patrol aircraft is fitted with satellite data transmission, a photographic camera with position and time recorder and automatic flight navigation with pre-recorded search patterns. A six-station internal telephone system is linked via the operator’s console to the external communications system.
An electro-optical turret with forward-looking infrared and television camera provides day and night capability. The aircraft is equipped with rescue equipment.
The Global Military Aircraft Market 2011-2021
This project forms part of our recent analysis and forecasts of the global Military Aircraft market available from our business information platform Strategic Defence Intelligence. For more information click here or contact us: EMEA: +44 20 7936 6783; Americas: +1 415 439 4914; Asia Pacific: +61 2 9947 9709 or via email.
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