Two H215s to Serve in rescEU Fleet

Greece has placed an order for additional firefighting helicopters from Airbus, opting for 8 new H215 aircraft as the region seeks to bolster readiness for future deployments.

The purchase will be supported by European funds, resulting in a government-owned, contractor-operated model. That means the new H215s will largely be operated by Airtelis and SAF Hélicoptères, knowledgeable and experienced firms in the European firefighting world. “The signing of the contract for the purchase of new H215 helicopters represents an important step in our efforts to mitigate the devastating consequences of the climate crisis in our country,” said Panagiotis Stampoulidis, Deputy CEO of Growthfund, about the significance of the project. “This is the largest contract signed under the ‘Aegis’ National Programme to bolster the Civil Protection mechanism in Greece with modern equipment, and we are delighted that the Project Preparation Facility of Growthfund swiftly concluded this tender with transparency and efficiency.”
“Wildfires have burned on average three to five million square kilometres globally in recent years with significant environmental consequences. It is an honour to have been selected to support the combat, with our H215 helicopters, that Greek communities face every year,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “The H215 is used around the world for firefighting missions with its ability to drop more than four tonnes of water at a time. Relying on experienced operators, such as Airtelis and SAF Aerogroup, is exactly what the French Securité Civile does. Airbus Helicopters has been a long-standing provider of helicopters for essential missions in the country and together with our GO-CO partners, we are sure that the H215 will be a vital and reliable asset," he added.

Those who recall the 2022 to 2023 wildfire season will remember why these purchases are necessary–in 2023 alone, the European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism was activated 23 times for extreme weather, a trend that kept going to see 31 activations last year. Only 19 of those 34 times pertained solely to wildfires, but overall, the EU knows it needs to bolster its wildfire defenses wherever it can. In 2024, a purchase for €600 million was put towards a dozen amphibious firefighting aircraft for placement throughout the Mediterranean and Iberian regions. Greece bought 7 new DHC-515s in 2024, too, with two of them earmarked for service in the EU’s rescEU reserve fleet. The H215 will give Greece the ability to transport 19 firefighters in its transport configuration, or be equipped with a water bucket and/or belly tank.

FMI: www.airbus.com