Greece has signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters for the purchase of eight H215 helicopters, with an option for two additional units, to enhance wildfire combat capabilities. The tender was managed by the Growthfund’s Project Preparation Facility (PPF).
The H215 helicopters, part of the Super Puma family, will be operated under a “government-owned, contractor-operated” model, with Airbus Helicopters partnering with existing H215 firefighting operators Airtelis and SAF Helicopteres for technical and operational support.
“The signing of the contract for the purchase of new H215 helicopters represents an important step in our efforts to mitigate the devastating consequences of the climate crisis in our country,” said Panagiotis Stampoulidis, deputy CEO of Growthfund. He added that this is the largest contract under the Aegis National Program, aimed at modernizing Greece’s civil protection infrastructure.
Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters, highlighted the H215’s global use for firefighting, noting its capacity to drop over four tonnes of water at a time. “We are sure that the H215 will be a vital and reliable asset,” he said.
The H215, part of the Super Puma family with over 1,100 units delivered and 6 million flight hours, is equipped with the H225’s 4-axis autopilot, enabling day and night operations. With a range of 540 nautical miles, over two hours of endurance, and capacity for 19 firefighters, it can carry a water bucket or belly tank for firefighting.
The Greek Fire Service already operates two Super Puma helicopters, and the Air Force has 12 in service.