Airbus Defence & Space has identified Saudi Arabia as the customer for four C295Ws, with the medium transports to be operated by the nation’s interior ministry.

“The C295W has been chosen based on its demonstrated excellent operational capabilities in hot and severe conditions, and its proven affordable maintenance and operational costs,” the manufacturer says. It has not revealed when the winglet-equipped aircraft will be handed over.

Flightglobal’s Ascend Fleets database records the Royal Saudi Air Force as operating four earlier-generation CN235s, with the transports having been produced in 1986 and 1987. The service also has three A330-based multi-role tanker transports supplied by the European company.