Canadair. Credit: Fabian Zimmerli
The Royal Air Force (FRA) deployed two Canadair aircraft and a Casa support aircraft on September 18 to Monte Real in Portugal, to contribute to the efforts of the Portuguese authorities in the fight against forest fires in the north of the country, in a joint action in which Spanish, French and Italian aircraft are also taking part. The Portuguese press had reported four aircraft mobilized by Rabat.
Four crews and a technical team from the Firefighting Squadron of the 3rd Air Base of the Royal Air Forces are also mobilized as part of this mission, which comes in response to the request for support made by the country’s authorities, indicates a press release from the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces.
Since 2012, FRA Canadair aircraft have participated in Spain, Portugal and Italy in the fight against forest fires in these countries. In Portugal in particular, where Morocco is intervening for the third time since 2016, Moroccan aircraft carried out, during their interventions in 2016 and 2017, approximately 70 sorties in 230 flight hours. Morocco’s recurring participation in the fight against forest fires in Portugal demonstrates the deep ties of solidarity and cooperation that exist between the two countries and cover several areas of common interest, according to the same source.
The Kingdom of Morocco has a large fleet of Canadair CL415 and CL215 water bomber aircraft. Since 2011, when the first aircraft were delivered to Morocco, these aircraft have demonstrated their effectiveness in fighting forest fires both inside and outside Morocco.
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