Greece on Tuesday signed a contract for the upgrade of seven Canadair CL-415 fire-fighting aircraft, an agreement drafted by the climate crisis and civil protection ministry.

The contract includes the upgrade of the planes’ electronic and navigation systems with the installation of more advanced avionics equipment based on the “glass cockpit” concept. Within this framework, the agreement aims to replace the current and outdated hardware and to ensure compliance with European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) standards.

At the same time, the upgrade is expected to enhance the reliability, flight safety and operational effectiveness of the aircraft during aerial firefighting operations. Greece is plagued with the specter of seasonal and often devastating wildfires every summer.

The first upgraded aircraft is expected to be delivered in 2027, while the entire project is scheduled to be completed by 2030.

An emergency sea landing of a Canadair CL-215 firefighting aircraft in the Gulf of Corinth on Friday, July 25, 2025.