Small, cheap but reliable, the CASA C-212 Aviocar is a very successful STOL utility transport in service with well over thirty air forces and paramilitary customers around the world. Resembling a small C-130, it features two turboprop engines, a rugged shoulder-wing configuration, and the ability to operate from rough airstrips but unlike the Hercules is unpressurized and has a fixed tricycle undercarriage. Over 400 C-212s have been built for both civil and military service in Spain and around the world and it has evolved into various different roles like ASW and electronic intelligence proving the overall soundness of the design. Many of the latter variants have been built in a partnership between CASA and PT Nurtanio in Indonesia (which would later collaborate in the CN-235 joint-venture transport) and it was also used by the US where it was designated C-41.

Flight of the first C-212 was on 26 March 1971 and the original production variants was designated C-212-100. The fuselage was subsequently stretched in the C-212-200 which also had more powerful engines which increased its payload. Produced in collaboration with PT Nurtiano, the C-212-300 was the ultimate development of the Aviocar and was further modified into ASW, maritime patrol and electronic intelligence platforms in addition to having winglets for greater stability. Finally, the latest C-212-400 has a new engine and improved carrying capacity. As with most CASA designs, an M suffix to a designation indicates a military model.