918th Air Brigade puts modern C-295 aircraft into combat duty

Colonel Chu Van Hai - Deputy Brigade Commander of Military Training of Air Brigade 918 said that the unit is preparing to put C-295 aircraft into combat duty.

Receiving new, modern aircraft

In recent years, the Air Defense - Air Force, with its orientation towards modernization, has been given priority in investing in purchasing many new and modern weapons and equipment.

Besides the fighter air force being the top priority, the transport air force has also undergone qualitative changes when receiving modern C-295 military transport aircraft, belonging to the 918th Air Brigade.

C-295 military transport aircraft with serial number 8903 of the Vietnam Air Force. Photo: Airport-Data.com

The C-295 is considered one of the most advanced medium-class transport aircraft in the world with outstanding advantages such as:

Firstly, the C-295 has a modern avionics system, which helps the pilot operate the aircraft more simply and easily. All aircraft parameters as well as panoramic information in the sky are updated on large LCD screens.

Second, thanks to its powerful, fuel-efficient engine, the C-295 has a longer range and larger carrying capacity than many other transport aircraft of the same type.

Third, the C-295 is capable of taking off and landing on extremely short runways, including temporary airfields. This is one of the most outstanding features of this aircraft line.

Fourth, as a medium-class multi-purpose military transport aircraft, the C-295 can perform many missions such as transporting goods, transporting troops, conducting search and rescue, and transporting medical personnel. In addition, it is also used as a platform to develop a maritime patrol - anti-submarine variant and an airborne early warning - command variant.

With the receipt of this modern aircraft, the Vietnam Air Transport Force has made great strides, creating a qualitative change, promptly replacing the An-26 transport aircraft that are gradually approaching the end of their operational life cycle.

Mastering the modern C-295 aircraft, putting it into combat duty

According to the contract signed with Airbus Defence & Space, since mid-2014, the Vietnamese pilots and technicians have been studying to change to the new aircraft type abroad. With a high sense of responsibility, the Vietnamese pilots have been highly appreciated by the flight instructors of the partner, quickly mastering the modern C-295 military transport aircraft.

November 14, 2014 marked an important milestone when the first C-295 of the Vietnam Air Force (factory number 0123) officially took to the skies. Immediately after that, Vietnamese pilots practiced on their aircraft in Seville, Spain.

To date, all three C-295s have been delivered by the partner to the Vietnam Air Force and have been assigned to the 918th Air Brigade.

C-295 military transport aircraft number 8903 of the Vietnam Air Force. Photo: Planesspotters.net

In the article titled "Brigade 918: Strengthening mixed training of aircraft types" in the PK-KQ Newspaper, published on August 4, 2017, it is said that up to now, the unit has completely mastered this type of transport aircraft and will soon put it on combat duty.

The article also said that in the coming time, Brigade 918 will bring pilots, flight crew members and various types of aircraft, including C-295s, to Can Tho airport for training practice.

Previously, in the report "Conquering challenges - Learning to fly new generation aircraft" of QPVN Television, in order to quickly meet operational requirements, the team of pilots and mechanics were sent for training abroad before receiving the aircraft.

For pilots, the requirement is to be a level 1 pilot with over 1,500 hours of accumulated flight time. For technicians, they must be highly qualified and skilled.

Special anti-submarine patrol aircraft C-295 MPA has arrived in Vietnam.

In the future, Vietnam continues to be considered by Airbus Defence & Space as a key market for the C-295 aircraft. In addition to the transport variant, they hope that Vietnam will be interested in special variants such as anti-submarine patrol and airborne early warning.

Therefore, in early July, within the framework of the C-295 military transport aircraft introduction program called "C295 Worldtour", a C-295 MPA anti-submarine patrol aircraft landed at Noi Bai airport to introduce the superior features of this aircraft to the Vietnam Air Force.

According to Soha