Overview

• France’s dozen Canadair water bombers average 30 years in service and face global spare-part shortages after no new builds since 2015.
• Only four Canadair were deployed to the recent Narbonne fire because maintenance schedules and a national doctrine reserve aircraft for emerging blazes.
• Two Canadair ordered in 2023 remain due in 2028 and the interior minister has signaled a fresh order of two more despite De Havilland Canada’s limited production capacity.
• Unsa pompiers and parliamentary authors are pressing for increased funding in the next finance law to modernize aerial firefighting and preserve readiness.
• Start-up Hynaero is developing Frégate F100 amphibious water-bomber prototypes for 2029 as part of efforts to build a domestic European firefighting aircraft industry.