Greece orders eight Airbus H215 helicopters to fight forest fires
May 1, 2025
Currently, the Pyrosvestiko Soma (Hellenic Fire Service) operates two older AS332L1 Super Pumas, while the Hellenic Air Force operates 12 AS332C1 Super Pumas with 384 Mira Erevnas Diasosis (MED – Search and Rescue Squadron) at Elefsis Air Base. This existing Greek Super Puma ecosystem will benefit from the support activities and training of technicians and pilots foreseen by the new contract.
The new order is the result of a tender conducted by the Project Preparation Facility of Growthfund (the National Fund of Greece) on behalf of the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection.
Panagiotis Stampoulidis, Deputy CEO of Growthfund noted that: “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. 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.”
This contract is supported by two European funds and aligns with the Ministry’s Aegis Programme, which is intended to enhance the capabilities of the Civil Protection forces. The contract will be based on a “government owned – contractor operated” (GO-CO) model under which Airbus Helicopters will partner with experienced H215 firefighting operators, Airtelis and SAF Hélicoptères, who will provide technical and operational support.
Airtelis, based in the South of France, is a subsidiary of RTE, and has more than 60 years of experience in power grid support and emergency response operations, notably firefighting, for a wide range of national and international clients. SAF Hélicoptères (part of SAF Aerogroup) specialises in complex helicopter operations like mountain rescue, air medical services, firefighting, and humanitarian/logistic missions, as well as maintenance, and pilot/technician training. The company mounted an H215 RescEU deployment to Greece only last year.
Bruno Even, the CEO of Airbus Helicopters said that: “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. 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.”
The multirole, civil-certfied H215 is a modernised version of the Airbus Helicopters Super Puma/Cougar/Caracal family, which includes more than1,100 helicopters delivered. These have clocked up more than 6 million flying hours. The H215 is equipped with the same 4-axis autopilot as the military H225, allowing firefighting operations to be conducted at night as well as during the day. The H215 has a range of around 540 nm, an endurance of more than two hours, and an ability to transport up to 19 firefighters. It can be equipped with a belly tank or can carry and underslung water bucket.
