The Moroccan fleet is expanding with the acquisition of three new Canadairs, the cost of which amounts to 1.2 billion dirhams. Enough to strengthen its arsenal in the face of the fires that affect the kingdom.
The delivery of the three additional Canadairs will begin in 2023, specifying the report on the sectoral budget of the national defense administration for the year 2023 presented to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense. These planes have passed their test flights in Canada, a mandatory passage that allows you to make the necessary adjustments. This new acquisition brings to 8 the number of Canadairs available to Morocco: five Canadair planes (C-415) and three planes (CL-215).
Designed and produced in Canada, the Canadair (CL-215) is a twin-engine amphibious aircraft, a water bomber for fighting forest fires. It is the first aircraft specifically designed for this role, for which previously only military aircraft or converted airliners existed. Equipped with manual flight controls, it has retractable landing gear, which allows it to land on almost all runways and thus always be as close as possible to fires.
Once received, these new devices are of great use to Morocco, which is facing major forest fires. This year, 39 major forest fires have ravaged 3,000 hectares in provinces of the kingdom such as Larache, Chefchouaen, and Tetouan.
