LUXEMBOURG - The NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA) is supporting the Hellenic Fire Brigade during their wildfire season for the 11th consecutive year. Upon the request of the Greek authorities, NSPA has deployed a record number of aircraft to 20 different strategic locations within Greek territory.
A total of 40 aircraft, including 29 Firefighting Helicopters (9 Heavy Lift and 20 Medium Lift) and, for the first time, 11 Firefighting Airplanes will remain available during daily operations, actively supporting the firefighters on the ground with a high fire extinguishing capacity.
The use of a range of helicopters and airplanes of different size and type allows crews to operate in remote locations without the need to return to a permanent operating base for water refilling. This reduces the time between successive drops, maximizing the effectiveness of wildfires suppression and preventing them from getting out of control.