The growing complexity of wildfires requires aerial platforms that combine high performance with mission-specific versatility.  This presentation highlights Leonardo's fleet of aircraft & helicopters at the forefront of modern aerial firefighting & shows how integrated digital & space technologies enhance their effectiveness.

This presentation looks at the Italian aerial firefighting fleet not in isolation, but as part of the broader European wildfire management framework.  The focus is not operational detail, but strategic alignment between ambition, capacity & governance.

Coulson will discuss the evolution of fighting fires at night showcasing the LA Basin Quick Reaction Force & discuss the technology based systems incorporated into the Coulson Large Airtanker Fleet

Wildfires in Europe are escalating - not just in intensity, but in frequency, unpredictability, and geographic spread.  In just a decade, the average area burned annually has more than doubled, and 2025 has become the worst year on record, with over 1.03 million hectares scorched by October.

Our upcoming report, "Up in Flames", explores this structural shift in depth.  The traditional model of short, contained summer fires no longer holds: fire seasons are now longer, hotter, and increasingly simultaneous across regions, overwhelming response systems that were designed for isolated events.  Southern hotspots like Spain and Portugal remain at the epicentre - accounting for up to two-thirds of the EU's total burned area in recent years - but risk is also spreading northward, and countries like Sweden and Finland reporting unprecedented fire activity.

This new fire regime is placing intense pressure on Europe's aerial response capacity.  Despite the creation and expansion of rescEU, gaps remain in fleet size, personnel availability, maintenance capacity, and regulatory flexibility, particularly during peak demand periods.  The report draws on expert insights from across Europe, North America and Australia to examine how the sector can adapt - from streamlining procurement and accelerating aircraft production, to improving cross-border interoperability, investing in specialised training, and rethinking the role of prevention.

This session presents the key findings from the research and expert panel, opening the floor to a share reflection: How can Europe scale up its aerial response fast enough to meet the challenge of a hotter, more fire-prone continent?

Italy has been at the forefront of supporting & adapting new fire technologies & practices.  How does Italy assess new technologies & incorporate them into the fire mission?  What are the structural challenges & how is 'the system' evolving to optimise outcomes?  Specific to the aerial fire mission, what key learnings are being applied to assess & incorporate new technologies & capabilities?

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada has a long-standing reputation as a global leader in aerial firefighting aircraft operating both the Canadair and the Dash 8-400.  The company today supports operators worldwide, with Europe representing a significant portion of both the Canadair fleet and customer base.  European operator feedback and demand were instrumental in the decision to return the DCH-515 to production with European operators being the launch customer.

This presentation will highlight De Havilland's commitment to supporting operators and keeping the fleet flying through tailored solutions, strong OEM support, and enhanced fleet reliability enabled by modernization programs leveraging DHC-515 improvements.  It will explore how De Havilland balances innovation with operational excellence to meet the evolving needs of aerial firefighting operations.  Attendees will gain insight into De Havilland's strategic vision and the future of aerial firefighting, ensuring operational readiness today and for decades to come.

What is the role of RFMC/LFWMB and how their work being applied to the growing wildfire challenge in teh Balkan nations?  What regional & national factors are influencing the application of wildfire knowhow to regional challenges?  How is collaboration with OSCE and FAO accelerating capabilities to improve outcomes?  Specific to the aerial fire mission, what have been the key achievements & what is the path forward for regional capacities & capabilities?

Wildfire response planning often collides with real-word constraints - budgets, aircraft availability, completing priorities, seasonal maintenance, and non-standard fire seasons.  This session explores how MAFFS supports critical surge demand, reduces long-term captial exposure, and provides a scalable path to strengthening national and regional wildfire response capabilities, with real-world operational insight across multiple platforms and operators.

Drop efficiency remains a key area of focus for the AFF community.  This panel will discuss how a new sensor-based approach can significantly enhance efficiency & outcomes.

The dramatic increase in sensor capacities in space, via UAS & other aerial means, and ground-based sensors, is enabling game-changing improvements to the aerial fire mission.  How best to integrate this data, how best to choose which services & which mix of service to optimise outcomes?  What lessons are already being applied as the quantity & quality of data increases?

Adoption of UAS into wildfire & fire operations is quickly becoming ubiquitous globally.  Key regulatory bottlenecks are being addressed in many jurisdictions, but much work is still to be done.  What roles are best suited to UAS capabilities & operations, and where should efforts be focused?  What unmet needs are being addressed by UAS?  Integrating UAS operations into legacy structure, including asset selection & training, are significant challenges.  And where does the money come from in a restricted budgetary environment?  This panel will share perspectives & case studies.