The inclusion of the purchase of a DHC-515 firefighting aircraft, also known as a new type of Canadair, in the Program “Civil Protection 2021-2027” of the NSRF, announced the Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, Nikos Papathanasis.

the market, total public expenditure of 53,135,584 eurosis co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund and the beneficiary is the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection.

This acquisition is expected to contribute to increasing the operational capacity of the country’s aerial firefighting fleet, as the specific aircraft are used in all phases of forest firefighting, i.e. surveillance, immediate intervention and response to major incidents. The proposed aircraft type provides comparative advantages over the existing one in a number of quality characteristics. Examples include: the ability to carry a larger payload of water or retarding fluid, longer flight time and modern shipping systems. Additionally, the DHC-515 type aircraftdue to their greater autonomy, they can repeat the process of dropping water or retardant foam without returning to base for refueling.

The procurement of the aircraft Canadair DHC-515takes place within the framework of an intergovernmental agreement between the European Union, the government of Canada, as guarantor country, and the manufacturing company De Havilland Canada. In the context of this agreement, European Union countries (Spain, France, Italy, Portugal, Greece, etc.) are to acquire a total of 20 aircraft to strengthen the civil protection of both the countries themselves and the entire Union.

Under this agreement, which was ratified by the Greek Parliament with Law 5098/2024, Greece is to procure a total of 7 Canadair DHC-515 aircraft along with initial support equipment, personnel training and transportation service. The procurement of the 7 aircraft is part of the National Civil Protection Program “AEGIS” and is to be carried out with resources from the Civil Protection Mechanism of the European Union RescEU, the European Investment Bank as well as the NSRF 2021-2027.

The Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias, said:

“The Civil Protection equipment program “AEGIS” continues to be implemented at a rapid pace. The 2.1 billion euro projects – funds secured by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis through the NSRF, the European Investment Bank and the Recovery Fund – include the supply of CL-515 aircraft, the production of which has already begun. After 50 years, our country will acquire 7 new Canadair aircraft, while at the same time through “AEGIS” it will strengthen its air fleet with another 42 aircraft and helicopters of various types to deal with natural disasters».

The Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance, Nikos Papathanasis, emphasized:

“Greece is proceeding with the acquisition of the new generation DHC-515 firefighting aircraft, as part of an agreement we signed during the recent visit of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to Canada. With the broader civil protection actions within the framework of the National Plan “Greece 2.0”, financed by the Recovery and Resilience Fund, those that have joined the NSRF, as well as our cooperation with the European Investment Bank, we are inexorably implementing our commitments for a better preventing and dealing with fires and the climate crisis, through strengthening the country with the most modern means»