Morocco to Receive Canadair CL-415 Water Bomber to Combat Wildfires

Rabat – As summer approaches and a heatwave has already hit several provinces across Morocco, the north African country is preparing to combat any potential wildfires and is set to receive a Canadair CL-415 firefighting aircraft.

Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces (FAR) took to Twitter to announce that the CL-415EAF CN-ATS C/N:1095 Canadair plane is ready for delivery in the coming days, noting that this is the second of the three Canadair planes recently acquired by the Kingdom.

#FARMAROC_EXCLUSIF #CANADAIR #CL415EAF
كالغاري بكندا ,الكنادير CL-415EAF CN-ATS C/N:1095 جاهزة لتسليم في الأيام القادمة. جدير بالذكر ان هذه الطائرة هي الثانية ضمن ثلاث طائرات CL-415EAF اقتناها المغرب لدعم اسطوله لمكافحة الحرائق.
الطائرة لأولى CL-415EAF CN-ATR C/N:1090 pic.twitter.com/iyl0ruMqLN

— Far-Maroc (@FAR_MAROC) April 25, 2023

Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces noted that the CL-415 is currently receiving avionics upgrades as well as certification at the Canadian aerospace and defense company Cascade Aerospace.

FAR also highlighted that the third Canadair CL-415EAF CN-ATT is undergoing airframe and engine development at the De Havilland Canada plant in Calgary.

The Canadair CL-415, also known as “The Bombardier 415 Superscooper,” is one of the most well-known firefighting aircraft in aviation.

The aircraft, which is the successor to the Canadair CL-215, is used for disaster relief, firefighting, law enforcement, and military transportation.

The Hellenic Air Force reported that the CL-415 has improved features over its predecessor, such as the ability to scoop up 5,455 liters of water in just 12 seconds and can reach a maximum speed of 376 km/h.

According to reports, the CL-415 is among the most expensive aerial firefighting aircraft ever produced, with an estimated acquisition cost of $37 million.

With the addition of 3 new aircraft, the Royal Air Force’s fleet now stands at eight.

The Moroccan Royal Air Force deployed several such planes to help control wildfires that hit Ouazzane in 2022.

The Royal Air Force’s Canadair fleet will strengthen Morocco’s firefighting capabilities, particularly as the country’s climate has changed dramatically due to drought and a lack of rain, which exacerbate forest fires.