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The current fleet of the 43 Group and its modernization<\/big><\/p>\n
This Friday, the Ministry of Defense of Spain has announced<\/a> the signing of an agreement to modernize a total of 14 firefighting aircraft operated by the 43rd Group<\/strong> of the Air Force, based in Torrej\u00f3n de Ardoz ( Madrid). The current fleet is divided this way:<\/p>\n Until last year, the 43 Group operated four other CL-215T<\/strong>, but were withdrawn from service and auctioned<\/a> due to their age. Their registration numbers were UD.13-15, UD.13-16 and UD.13-17 (these three built in 1978) and UD.13-19 (which arrived in Spain on August 28, 1984).<\/p>\n The fleet of CL-215T that remains in service are old CL-215 that had a piston engine<\/strong> and that were modernized starting in 1989, receiving new turboprop engines. These aircraft are the UD.13-20 (arrived in Spain on August 24, 1987), the UD.13-21 (built in 1989), and the UD.13-23, UD.13-24, UD.13 -25, UD.13-26, UD.13-27, UD.13-28, UD.13-29 and UD.13-30 (built in 1990).<\/p>\n The modernization of the CL-215T and CL-415 in service in Spain will be financed by the European Union<\/strong>, as they are integrated into the European Civil Protection Mechanism, as reported by the Ministry of Defense.<\/p>\n The purchase of seven new De Havilland Canada DHC-515 Firefighter<\/big><\/p>\n In addition to the modernization of the CL-215T and CL-415, the big news announced today is the purchase by Spain of seven new De Havilland Canada DHC-515 Firefighter<\/strong> floatplanes. This purchase will be coordinated by the European Commission and will be made jointly with four other CL-415 operating countries (Croatia, France, Greece and Italy) in addition to Portugal<\/strong>, whose Air Force will receive its first firefighting seaplanes. The six countries plan to buy a total of 20 DHC-515<\/strong>, so Spain could be one of the largest operators of this new aircraft.<\/p>\n The DHC-515 is basically an improved CL-415<\/strong> It was announced by De Havilland Canada two years ago<\/a>, in order to provide a more modern aircraft to CL-215T and CL-415 operators. \"Important upgrades are being made that will increase the functionality and effectiveness<\/strong> of this legendarily rugged firefighting aircraft,\"<\/em> the Canadian company then announced, noting that it already had letters of intention for the purchase of 22 aircraft by European customers.<\/p>\n The company that originally manufactured the CL-215 and CL-215T, Canadair, was acquired by Bombardier in 1986<\/strong>, which is why the CL-415 was marketed under the name of the new owner, despite that genetically these planes are still popularly known as Canadair (in Spain they are nicknamed \"Botijo\").<\/p>\n The CL-415 program was acquired by the Canadian company Viking Air in 2016.<\/strong> Viking Air, based in North Saanich (British Columbia), specializes in improved versions of some De Havilland Canada aircraft and in manufacture spare parts for older aircraft of that brand. De Havilland Canada has been trying to relaunch production of the CL-415 since 2019<\/strong>, and it will be at its Calgary (Alberta) factory where the new DHC-515s will be built.<\/p>\n\n
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