Greece has finalized a €43 million ($46.8 million) contract to modernize seven Canadair CL-415 firefighting aircraft, a critical move to bolster the nation's defenses against increasingly destructive wildfire seasons.
Mr. Yiannis Kefalogiannis, the minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, oversaw the agreement, which will outfit the aging water bombers with digital "glass cockpit" avionics and advanced navigation systems.
The upgrade is designed to address equipment obsolescence and ensure the fleet meets current European Union Aviation Safety Agency standards.
"This is not merely a technical intervention," Mr. Kefalogiannis said. "It is about ensuring that a valuable national fleet continues operating with modern safety and reliability standards for many years to come."
The first upgraded aircraft is scheduled for delivery in March 2027, with the full project slated for completion by 2030.
The investment is part of a broader strategic shift to harmonize Greece’s existing assets with the pending acquisition of seven new-generation CL-515 aircraft starting in 2028.
Once both projects are complete, Greece could operate 14 modernized Canadair planes, potentially the largest such fleet in the world.
The modernization is funded through a European Investment Bank loan under the national AEGIS program.
Mr. Panagiotis Stamboulidis, deputy CEO of the Hellenic Corporation of Assets and Participations, emphasized that the deal is a milestone in a strategic procurement framework that has already delivered over 100 contracts worth €1 billion.
Mr. Kefalogiannis warned that enhanced diagnostic systems are essential for fleet availability, noting that "every aircraft that remains grounded represents a real loss of capability" during peak fire months.
For many Greeks, he added, the sight of these aircraft remains the primary symbol of the state's presence in the battle against climate-driven disasters.