[5] The company was offered an equal share in the venture along with technology transfer opportunities from CASA, and was presented as being mutually beneficial from an economic standpoint.

[5] The presented terms being agreeable, CASA and IPTN quickly formalised the programme as a joint venture initiative; on 17 October 1979, they formed Airtech International to design, develop, manufacture, and market the new aircraft.

During November 1979, the first technical team visit from IPTN was made to CASA's Madrid facilities, while the first joint meeting was held in Bandung two months later.

[5] During the first half of 1980, various configurations were studied, including a stretched derivative of the CASA C-212 Aviocar, multiple clean-sheet wide-body aircraft with rectangular and circular-shaped fuselages.

[5] The selected configuration for the aircraft featured a relatively wide fuselage for its size, complete with a rear-facing ramp suitable for all-purpose transport duties.

The design philosophy of "a big aircraft in a small plane" was practiced, leading to be equipped to suit various situations and operating conditions present in both industrialised and developing countries.

[5] From 1980 to 1983, the second phase of development took place, starting with the detailed design work, tools manufacturing, component production, final assembly, and cumulating in the completion of initial prototypes.

[5] On 10 September 1983, the first pair of prototypes were officially rolled out simultaneously at Getafe and Bandung in ceremonies attended by both King Juan Carlos I of Spain and President Suharto of Indonesia.

The lower wages present in Indonesia have been a key factor in enabling the CN-235 to be economically produced at its relatively low purchase price.

[5] Both CASA and IPTN were keen to further develop the CN-235, the original prototypes were quickly adapted to serve as flying test beds to support these efforts.

[11] In November 2016, the Indonesian Air Force also commenced operations with the latest generation of CN-235 MPAs, equipped with winglets and new electronic support apparatus.

[14] During the early 1990s, the Irish Air Corps became interested in the type, initially opting to lease a single aircraft directly from CASA in 1992.

[21][22] However, during the following year, the transaction was halted due to the refusal of the United States government to allow the transfer of what they deemed to be US technology in the aircraft's avionics.

[26] In November 2011, the first aircraft was accepted by the service; it was configured to conduct search and rescue, disaster relief, and drug interdiction missions.

[32] Collaborators in the project included the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau of Jordan, and the U.S. defense company Orbital ATK.

[41] On January 10, 2024, Indonesian President Joko Widodo offered the CN-235 ASW of PT Dirgantara Indonesia for the Philippine Navy during his visit to Manila.

It has not achieved substantial sales in this role compared to competing 50-seat commuter aircraft such as the Fokker 50, ATR 42 and De Havilland Canada DHC-8.

[44] Iberia LAE, Spain's flag carrier, emerged as an early customer, opting to purchase four CN-235s from CASA to serve on its regional routes.

[45] Numerous Indonesian operators had placed early orders for the CN-235; by 1992, there were internal routes served by the type between most of the major cities in the country.

[citation needed] During 2015, Indonesian Aerospace announced that they were in the early stages of developing a new variant of the CN-235, the N-245, which has been specifically designed to perform civil operations and is able to carry up to 60 passengers.

The CN-235 is a medium-range twin-engine transport aircraft developed by CASA (Spain) and IPTN (Indonesia), known for its versatility in both military and civilian applications.

In the Bangladesh Air Force, these aircraft serve roles such as troop transport, cargo airlift, medical evacuation, and maritime surveillance, contributing to the country's defense and logistical capabilities.

Botswana United Arab Emirates On 18 October 1992, Merpati Nusantara Airlines (Registration PK-MNN) CN-235-10 Flight 5601 crashed in Garut, Indonesia, killing all 31 people on board,[92] On 19 January 2001, a Turkish Air Force CN-235 training mission crashed near Kayseri after entering a spin from which recovery was not possible, killing all three people on board.

[94][96] On 29 August 2001, Binter Mediterráneo Flight 8261 (Registration EC-FBC) crash-landed at Málaga, Spain, killing four of the 47 passengers and crew aboard.

[99][100][101] On 1 August 2015 a CN-235-200M operated by the Colombian Air Force crashed in Cesar province, Colombia due to engine failure, killing 11 people.