Faced with a particularly severe wildfire season in 2026, the French Civil Protection agency is likely to deploy an A400M aircraft fitted with a water-dropping kit for the first time. This decision comes as more than 25,000 hectares have already been burnt since the start of the year, which is double the area affected during the same period in 2025.
A military aircraft converted into a water bomber
The A400M, normally used for military transport, can be fitted with a removable kit enabling it to drop up to 20,000 litres of water or fire retardant. With this capacity, it is equivalent to three Canadair aircraft, the iconic fire-fighting planes. Julien Marion, Director-General of Civil Protection, announced at a press conference on Friday 10 July that the aircraft could be deployed within 10 to 15 days, if the situation so requires.
“The tests were successfully carried out last year, and given the very busy start to the season we are experiencing, discussions are under way with Airbus and the Ministry of the Armed Forces to make this option possible,” he explained. The A400M, with its four engines each producing 11,000 chevaux and a wingspan of 42 metres, offers unprecedented versatility for fire-fighting operations.
A vital boost for the fire service
Firefighters, who are already heavily deployed on the ground, could benefit from this new tool to supplement existing aerial resources. Large-scale drops of water or fire retardant will enable larger areas to be covered and allow for a faster response at the fire fronts, thereby limiting their spread. This deployment forms part of an overall strategy to strengthen fire-fighting capabilities, at a time when weather conditions remain very conducive to the spread of fires.
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