Airbus Helicopters has signed a contract with the Hellenic Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection for the purchase of eight H215 helicopters, with an option for two additional aircraft, to support wildfire response efforts in Greece. The agreement follows a tender carried out by the Project Preparation Facility of Growthfund (the National Fund of Greece) on behalf of the Ministry. It is backed by two European funds and forms part of the Ministry's Aegis Programme, which aims to strengthen the capabilities of the Civil Protection forces. The contract will operate under a government owned contractor operated (GO-CO) model, with Airbus Helicopters partnering with experienced H215 firefighting operators, Airtelis and SAF Hélicoptères, to provide 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, about the significance of the project. “This is the largest contract signed under the ‘Aegis' National Programme to bolster the Civil Protection mechanism in Greece with modern equipment, and we are delighted that the Project Preparation Facility of Growthfund swiftly concluded this tender with transparency and efficiency.”
“Wildfires have burned on average three to five million square kilometres globally in recent years with significant environmental consequences. It is an honour to have been selected to support the combat, with our H215 helicopters, that Greek communities face every year,” said Bruno Even, CEO of Airbus Helicopters. “The H215 is used around the world for firefighting missions with its ability to drop more than four tonnes of water at a time. Relying on experienced operators, such as Airtelis and SAF Aerogroup, is exactly what the French Securité Civile does. Airbus Helicopters has been a long-standing provider of helicopters for essential missions in the country and together with our GO-CO partners, we are sure that the H215 will be a vital and reliable asset,” he added.
