Greece officially received its first state-owned firefighting aircraft in a ceremony held at Megara Airport, attended by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, on Thursday Nov. 13. The event, organized by the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, was hailed by the premier as a “symbolic” and “historic” moment for the country.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mitsotakis highlighted the delivery as the first step in the most ambitious program to upgrade Greece’s aerial civil protection resources. He described the initiative as “the largest investment in the resilience of our homeland.”

The prime minister emphasized the necessity of strengthening Greece’s capabilities in the face of “varied crises” intensified by climate change. “As the battle against the climate crisis becomes harder, we must also upgrade the tools at our disposal,” he said.

Mitsotakis spoke with pride about the new fleet of three Diamond DA62 MPP aircraft, noting their advanced operational capabilities. He described the addition not merely as an incremental improvement but as a “qualitative leap” compared to previous aerial resources.

He also stressed the cost-efficiency of the new aircraft and the integration of internal and external security under a unified operational doctrine. “This means that if these assets are needed for other missions, such as border surveillance, they can be deployed, significantly enhancing the country’s overall capabilities,” he added.

The premier outlined plans for the next phase of the program, including the acquisition of modern firefighting helicopters, with the first two expected in the summer of 2026, and the renewal of the firefighting aircraft fleet.

Central to this effort is the procurement of seven new Canadair CL-515 water bombers, with the first, named GreeceOne, scheduled for delivery in 2028. This aircraft will feature upgraded operational capabilities, including night-time firefighting, extending Greece’s ability to respond to wildfires 24/7.