Europe is burning, the Canadians are dying: Who has the strongest fleet of firefighting aircraft and where is Croatia

Europe burns, Canada douses flames: Who has the strongest fleet of firefighting aircraft and where is Croatia? The increasing frequency of heatwaves driven by climate change, coupled with a rise in large wildfires, has led to a sharp increase in investment in aerial firefighting capabilities. As a result, the European market for firefighting aircraft is undergoing its most significant transformation since the 1970s. A recent analysis explored how the European market for specialized firefighting aircraft looks, which countries operate the largest fleets, and what developments can be expected in this niche sector over the coming decade. Today, Europe represents one of the world’s largest markets for specialized firefighting aircraft. Previously, the largest fleets were concentrated almost exclusively in Mediterranean countries such as France, Italy, Spain, Croatia, and Greece. However, in recent years, more and more countries in Central Europe have begun investing in aerial firefighting capacity. Several factors contribute to this shift. The wildfire season in many parts of Europe now lasts significantly longer than it did two decades ago. These fires are growing in intensity and cover larger areas, and they increasingly occur in countries previously less affected by such phenomena. At the same time, existing fleets largely consist of older aircraft requiring more frequent maintenance, while manufacturers struggle to keep up with rising demand. Currently, three main categories of firefighting aircraft dominate the European market. The first category includes large amphibious aircraft such as the Bombardier CL-415 and its successor, the DHC-515 produced by Canadian manufacturer De Havilland Canada. The second category consists of medium turboshaft aircraft like the Dash 8 Q400AT. The third category comprises light amphibious aircraft such as the American-made Air Tractor AT-802 Fire Boss. Canadian companies are becoming increasingly prominent in the European market. The Canadian company Conair Group, specializing in converting aircraft such as the Dash 8 and Air Tractor into firefighting planes, has gained greater visibility. In particular, the Fire Boss has seen a surge in popularity in recent years due to lower acquisition and maintenance costs, as well as its ability to operate from smaller water surfaces. As a result, countries such as Portugal, Greece, Slovenia, Spain, and Turkey have started incorporating the Fire Boss into their fleets. France currently leads in terms of fleet size, operating 21 firefighting aircraft, including 12 Canadairs CL-415, six Dash 8s, and three Beechcraft Super King Air 200s. French aircraft regularly participate in international interventions during major wildfires in southern Europe. Italy follows with 18 Canadairs CL-415 and a substantial helicopter fleet that often assists neighboring countries in extinguishing fires. Spain operates ten CL-215 and four CL-415 aircraft distributed across several regional bases. Greece uses 11 older CL-215s, seven CL-415s, and a few heavy transport helicopters such as the Mi-26TC. Croatia, through the Croatian Military Aviation, operates six Canadair CL-415s and six Air Tractor AT-802 Fire Bosses stationed at the Pukovnik Mirko Vukušić airbase in Zemun Gradec. These aircraft have been actively participating in fire suppression efforts across Europe for years. Croatian Canadairs have intervened in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Slovenia, North Macedonia, Albania, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Israel, and Turkey, making Croatia one of the most active European countries in providing international assistance in fire suppression. National fleets alone are proving insufficient in responding to simultaneous large-scale wildfires. Following catastrophic wildfires in Portugal, Greece, and Croatia, the European Union concluded that national fleets are no longer sufficient. Consequently, the rescueEU system was established, under which the European Commission finances the purchase and maintenance of new amphibious aircraft DHC-515 and coordinates their deployment among member states to ensure timely support.