The EU doubled its existing reserve fleet of firefighting aircraft in the past year, after devastating fires last summer in southern EuropeThat fleet comprises 28 aircraft, which the EU pays to lease from EU countries' own fleets or the market, to form a bloc-wide buffer during the wildfire season. That doubling of numbers is expected to cost 23 million euros, the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, said.
"We could have the first planes delivered two years later. And the whole fleet would be there by the end of the decade," Lenarcic told Reuters. Manufacturer De Havilland Canada has agreed to re-launch production of the "Canadair" aircraft, if the EU orders are placed, Lenarcic said. Six member states would sign the contracts: Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain. The EU would finance the purchase of the 12 planes for its own fleet, while member states would pay for their own.
De Havilland said in a statement it has completed its critical design review of the DHC-515 Firefighter and anticipates "completing contracts with our customers in the coming months, with first delivery before the fire season of 2027."