France’s firefighting fleet is large, but no superiority has been demonstrated

Paris – 27 July 2026: France has one of the most significant firefighting fleets in Europe. However, it cannot be demonstrated that its resources for combating wildfires are generally superior to those of neighboring countries. Therefore, a claim to that effect by MEP Grégory Allione is only partially correct. France can mobilize substantial resources of its own and make units available for European operations. Nevertheless, uniform data for a comprehensive comparison are lacking.

According to the Ministry of the Interior, the national fleet includes twelve Canadair amphibious aircraft and eight Dash aircraft. In addition, there are twelve firefighting helicopters, six Air Tractor aircraft and 27 departmental helicopters. In total, the ministry cites 65 aircraft intended for firefighting. Three Beechcraft aircraft are also used for reconnaissance and operational coordination. The figures document considerable capabilities, but do not provide reliable information either on the operational availability of each aircraft or on the performance of foreign fleets.

France has recently expanded its capabilities further. On 17 July, the Ministries of the Interior and Defence agreed with Airbus to test an A400M transport aircraft equipped with a system for dropping fire-extinguishing agents. The aircraft is expected to be able to carry up to 20 tonnes and, above all, create firebreaks. For now, this is an additional capability that still needs to be tested and authorized, not a replacement for the Canadair fleet.

In European civil protection, France is among the most important providers. For the 2026 fire season, four medium amphibious aircraft and one helicopter from France are registered in the EU-supported operational fleet. Greece also contributes four amphibious aircraft, while Italy and Spain contribute two each. In terms of previously reported European resources, France thus ranks ahead of several partners, although not Greece.

However, this overview does not constitute a ranking of national firefighting capabilities. The European Civil Protection Mechanism brings together voluntarily offered resources supported by the EU. The strategic rescEU reserve is activated when national resources and those already committed are insufficient. A request for assistance therefore does not demonstrate a fundamental weakness, but may be due to several simultaneous fires, their scale or the short-term availability of suitable aircraft.

France activated the mechanism on 5 July 2026. The European Commission then mobilized four rescEU aircraft from Sweden and Cyprus, as well as two helicopters from the Czech Republic. The fact that countries with smaller fleets provide assistance does not directly refute Allione’s argument: in an operation, the decisive factor is which units are available, suitable and can be deployed quickly.

The French fleet therefore carries considerable weight. However, the general claim of superiority over neighboring countries goes beyond what the data allow to be concluded. National inventories, technical operational availability and regional fire risks are not yet recorded using a common indicator.