According to a statement from the European executive, the 12 aircraft will increase the aerial firefighting capacity of the rescEU instrument.

The 12 new planes, which will be located in six EU Member States – Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Croatia and Greece – will be used to fight fires in the EU, particularly during the summer months.

The aircraft will only be delivered in 2027, with the current rescEU transition fleet expected to remain operational until then.

rescEU allows the EU to react quickly in the face of a serious transnational emergency.

The total budget of the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism in the 2021-2027 multiannual financial framework is €3.1 billion.