Cypriot firefighting fleet bolstered with new aircraft
A pair of Air Tractor aircraft and two Russian firefighting Kamov helicopters will be incorporated into the current Cypriot fleet
A report in the daily Phileleftheros confirmed the Air Tractors, which are arriving from Latin America, will be operational by next Friday. The Russian Kamovs are expected to arrive in Cyprus within a week.
The Russian Kamovs are provided by a Spanish company following public tender procedure results, and will be delivered pending approval from the appropriate authorities. European Union sanctions against Russia have been overcome, according to Agriculture Minister Costas Kadis, as the company providing the Kamovs represents only Spanish interests.
Additionally, the Cypriot government aims to meet with the Israeli environment minister in early July to look at establishing a collaboration with Israel over forest fire management.
The new additions increase the Republic’s fleet to 13 firefighting aircraft, mirroring growth in other areas of the country’s aerial support, including six new H145M helicopters recently for the National Guard.