The Canadian Commercial Corporation has finalized a government-to-government contract with the Spanish Air and Space Force to supply seven DHC-515 Firefighter aircraft.
De Havilland Aircraft of Canada will deliver the amphibious firefighting aircraft alongside spare parts, training and maintenance support. According to CCC, the DHC-515 model can deliver nearly 700,000 liters daily and refill from various water sources within 12 seconds. In a production update at Farnborough in July, the company said it started production for 22 aircraft in orders from various countries.
Spain’s decision to acquire the waterbombers follows a series of severe wildfires that have hit the country. In Cuenca, east-central Spain, blazes exacerbated by heatwaves and drought have razed over 1,500 hectares of vegetation.
Spain joins Greece, Croatia, Portugal, Italy and France in purchasing the Canada-made aircraft, with assistance from the European Union-funded rescEU initiative, an emergency response reserve to enhance the region’s disaster preparedness and management.