Croatia orders two De Havilland Canada DHC-515 Firefighters

The Croatia-based DHC-515 Firefighters will be flown by the Croatian Air Force. They will be deployed throughout the European Union (EU) to tackle wildfires when the need arises.

De Havilland Canada will provide the DHC-515 aircraft to Croatia, along with spare parts, training, and maintenance support.

Janez Lenarčič, EU Commissioner for Crisis Management, said: “The DHC-515s will be 100% paid for by the European Commission as part of our strengthened rescEU firefighting capacity, ready to fight ever more intense wildfires in Europe.”  

Currently operating six CL-415 aircraft, Croatia will increase its aerial firefighting program by one-third with the acquisition of the additional two DHC-515 aircraft.   

Croatia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Davor Božinović, commented: “The activities undertaken over the past few years by the Croatian Government, with its partners from Canada and with the support and assistance of the European Commission, have enabled Croatia to be among the first EU member states to sign the purchase agreement for two new DHC-515 aircraft, thereby contributing to the establishment of permanent firefighting capacities at the EU level.”

The DHC-515 Firefighter aircraft has the capacity to deliver nearly 700,000L into the fire zone per day.

Greece purchases seven De Havilland waterbombers 

The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, recently also met with the Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in Montréal to confirm a separate agreement for the DHC-515 Firefighter. 

The Greek government signed a contract for the purchase of seven DHC-515 aircraft, two of which will also be part of the EU rescEU reserve program.