On April 19th, 2024, the Spanish government announced that the European nation would add seven DHC-515 aircraft to their amphibious water bombing fleet. The purchase comes as part of a $375 million Euro upgrade of the country’s firefighting capabilities.
The purchase comes as part of the larger RescEU arrangement between European countries around the Mediterranean area to provide mutual aid throughout the region that has allocated over 600 million Euro to the project to procure more than 20 aircraft spread throughout the region that includes France, Croatia, Italy, Portugal, and Spain.
Spain will purchase five of the aircraft directly, while two additional aircraft will come from the RescEU funding. Part of the 375 million Euro will also go towards the fleet modernization of Spain’s existing CL-215 and CL-415 fleet.
The new DHC-515 fleet is expected to be delivered commencing in 2027.
