De Havilland Aircraft of Canada has released new footage showing the production of the DHC-515 aerial firefighting aircraft, the successor to the well-known Canadair CL-415. The programme has reached several important manufacturing milestones, with the first example of the new generation of specialised firefighting aircraft gradually taking its final shape.

At the company’s Canadian manufacturing facilities, the cockpit and lower hull have already been joined, forming the forward section of the first aircraft. The mid-fuselage section has also been completed and is now being connected to the forward fuselage, while the manufacturer has finished the first 28.6-metre wing box.

This is one of the aircraft’s most structurally important components, designed to withstand significant wing loads and connect the left and right sides of the structure. Completion of this component, together with the joining of the main fuselage sections, shows that the programme is gradually moving from the production of individual parts towards the assembly of the first complete aircraft.

“We’re building more than an aircraft, we’re strengthening the future of aerial firefighting. The progress we’re making reflects the expertise of our team and reinforces our commitment to delivering the DHC-515 to customers who need this unique capability,” said Brian Chafe, Chief Executive Officer of De Havilland Canada.

The DHC-515 is currently the world’s only purpose-built amphibious aerial firefighting aircraft in serial production. It builds on decades of operational experience gained with the CL-215 and CL-415, while introducing a modern flight deck, new avionics, improved corrosion protection, simplified maintenance and a range of enhancements intended to increase aircraft availability during the wildfire season.

One of its main advantages remains its ability to scoop water while flying over the sea, lakes or other sufficiently large bodies of water. Its tanks can be filled in approximately 12 seconds, eliminating the need to return to an airport after every water drop. According to the Canadian government agency Canadian Commercial Corporation, the aircraft can deliver nearly 700,000 litres of water to a fire area per day during intensive operations, depending on the distance between the fire and the water-scooping location, as well as other operational conditions.

The launch of DHC-515 production was largely made possible by coordinated European demand. De Havilland Canada is currently producing a total of 22 aircraft for six European countries – Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain. These countries became the initial customers of the revived production programme, which was developed with the support of the European Union’s rescEU civil protection mechanism.

Croatia is among the customers, having ordered two DHC-515 aircraft. The contract between the Republic of Croatia and Canadian Commercial Corporation was signed on March 25, 2024, and includes the two aircraft, spare parts, training and maintenance support.

The new aircraft will join Croatia’s aerial firefighting forces and supplement the existing fleet of Canadair CL-415s operated by the Croatian Air Force’s 855th Firefighting Squadron from Zemunik. For decades, Croatia has been among the countries with the greatest operational experience in fighting wildfires with amphibious aircraft, both within its own territory and during international deployments.

The two DHC-515s will not simply replace existing aircraft but will also form part of a broader European reserve fleet. Aircraft acquired through rescEU are expected to be based and operated in EU member states, while remaining available for deployment by the European Union to assist other countries when national capacities are insufficient.

This model is particularly important during severe wildfire seasons, when several Mediterranean countries may simultaneously face a large number of active fires. In such circumstances, aircraft availability, the ability to reposition quickly between bases and the capacity to operate for several hours without returning to an airport can play a decisive role.

The newly released footage of the first aircraft therefore represents more than a routine production update. It confirms that a programme which existed for years primarily through design work, contracts and the initial manufacturing of components is now becoming a tangible aircraft.

Although De Havilland Canada has not yet publicly confirmed which customer will receive the first production aircraft or announced a precise delivery schedule for individual countries, the completion of the main fuselage sections and the first wing box marks the most visible step so far towards the return of new Canadair aircraft to the production line. For Croatia, this progress means that the arrival of two aircraft expected to become one of the most important elements of the country’s wildfire protection system for decades to come is drawing closer.