Flying boats

The European Commission has announced the start of production for 12 new Canadair DHC 515 firefighting aircraft, which will form the permanent European forest firefighting fleet (rescEU). These aircraft will be permanently stationed in Greece, Croatia, France, Italy, Portugal, and Spain.

The European Commission confirmed on Thursday that the production of 12 new DHC 515 firefighting aircraft, an improved version of the Canadair 415, is under way.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has visited an air base in Elefsina to thank the country's aerial firefighters.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the Elefsina Air Base this morning, where the firefighting aircraft of the 383rd Special Operations and Aerial Firefighting Squadron and the 355th Tactical Transport Squadron are stationed.

Four Greek firefighting aircraft were deployed to Albania to help tackle a large forest fire in the southern part of the country through the European Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), which was activated at the request of Tirana.

Greece sent two PZLs to Albania on Tuesday, followed by two Canadair CL-415s on Wednesday. All four completed their mission and returned to Greece.

Greece sent four firefighting aircraft to Albania on Tuesday and Wednesday to help combat a large forest fire in the south of the country.

The deployment was organized through the European Civil Protection Mechanism after Albania requested assistance. Greece provided two PZL planes on Tuesday and two Canadair CL-415 aircraft on Wednesday.

Greece’s fleet includes various types of aircraft, including Canadair and newer Air Tractor models.

Greece on Thursday approved the purchase of seven firefighting aircraft from Canada to bolster its defences against wildfires, which have ravaged the country in recent years.

The deal passed by Parliament is to buy seven DHC-515 aircraft from the Canadian Commercial Corp for 361 million euros ($392 million).

In addition to the purchase of the seven new Canadair aircraft, Greece has sent a formal invitation to the manufacturer to undertake the upgrade of the CL-415 fleet

The large wildfire in Aspropyrgos, western Greece, reached the perimeter of the Hellenic Air Force's 112 Combat Wing at Elefsina Air Base earlier on Tuesday but was quickly stopped, Greek media reported.