Kazakhstan, Astana, Feb. 29 / Trend T.Nurmagambetov /
European aviation group Airbus will deliver two aircraft to Kazakhstan in early 2013, the press-service of the Kazakh Defence ministry said on Wednesday.
The relevant document has been signed between the authorised body of the Defence Ministry and a subsidiary of Airbus, Airbus Military.
'The first two aircraft will be delivered to Kazakhstan in early 2013. In addition, a memorandum of understanding for further delivery of six more aircraft, the C-295 was signed. Contracts will be signed during the next few years. By the end of 2018, the fleet of military transport aviation of the Kazakh Air Forces will increase by eight C-295 aircraft,' the statement said.
Among the obvious advantages of the C-295 are good steering and navigability and high flexibility which allows it to fly at extremely low altitudes.
'Fuel consumption per hour is half that of other aircraft in the same class. It also has a large range of more than 5500 kilometres', the statement indicates.
As noted, this aircraft has successfully been operated by air forces of Spain, France, the Czech Republic, and Finland.
"Kazakhstan has become the first customer of this aircraft in the CIS region," the statement said.
"Airbus Military is proud that the Defence Ministry of Kazakhstan expressed confidence in the company's products. We will do our best to justify the trust," the press service quoted the head of programmes at Airbus Military, Raphael Tentor as saying.
In addition, under the agreement, Airbus Military will pass required technological information on aircraft maintenance so that Kazakh military specialists will be able to service the C-295 themselves.