Athens, June 2, 2025 – In a significant move to boost its wildfire response capabilities, the Greek government has signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters for the purchase of eight H215 helicopters, with an option for two more. This landmark deal was sealed through the Hellenic Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, under the framework of the national ‘Aegis’ Programme, and with funding from two key European Union funds.
The contract was finalized following a transparent and competitive tender conducted by the Project Preparation Facility of Growthfund (Greece’s National Fund), and is structured under a “Government-Owned, Contractor-Operated” (GO-CO) model.
🔥 Fighting Fire with Precision: The H215 Helicopters in Action
The H215 helicopters are part of Airbus’ renowned Super Puma family, trusted globally for high-performance firefighting missions. Each aircraft is capable of:
Dropping over 4 tonnes of water per sortie
Flying long missions with a 540 NM range
Transporting up to 19 firefighters
Operating both day and night, thanks to its advanced 4-axis autopilot
The helicopters will be delivered with full operational and technical support provided by leading operators Airtelis and SAF Hélicoptères, both of whom have decades of expertise in emergency aviation operations.
🛡️ Aegis Programme’s Largest Aviation Acquisition Yet
Deputy CEO of Growthfund, Panagiotis Stampoulidis, hailed the deal as a milestone in Greece’s climate resilience strategy:
“The acquisition of these H215 helicopters marks a pivotal step in our national efforts to combat the effects of the climate crisis. This is the largest equipment procurement under the Aegis Programme to date, and it’s been conducted with speed, transparency, and efficiency.”
The Aegis Programme is a national initiative aimed at strengthening the civil protection forces of Greece with modern, mission-ready equipment to respond to growing environmental threats like forest fires.
🤝 European & Global Cooperation at the Core
The GO-CO partnership model will allow Greece to benefit from the operational excellence of Airtelis, a French emergency aviation veteran, and SAF Aerogroup, known for their 2024 RescEU H215 deployments in Greece. These firms will also contribute to:
Pilot and technician training
Maintenance and operational logistics
Long-term mission support
Airbus Helicopters’ CEO Bruno Even praised the collaboration:
“It is an honor to support Greece with our H215 helicopters in its yearly battle against wildfires. These aircraft are deployed worldwide for critical missions, and their inclusion in Greece’s aerial fleet will offer unmatched reliability and endurance.”
H215 helicopters Greece
🚁 Greece’s Growing Super Puma Ecosystem
The new H215 helicopters will join Greece’s existing Super Puma fleet. Currently, the Hellenic Fire Brigade operates two Super Pumas, while the Hellenic Air Force maintains a fleet of 12 Super Pumas. The latest deal is expected to further expand local infrastructure for helicopter maintenance and pilot training.
With over 1,100 Super Puma helicopters delivered globally and more than 6 million flight hours logged, the H215 stands as one of the world’s most trusted heavy multirole helicopters—certified for civil use and adaptable with either water buckets or belly tanks.
