Air Force logs 56 wildfire missions and plans C-130 deployment in 2027

Portuguese Air Force Black Hawk helicopters have taken part in 56 wildfire missions so far during the 2026 fire season. The flights exceeded 200 hours and included more than 900 water drops. The figures were announced at an event in Alfragide connected with the acquisition of rescue and firefighting aircraft. The fleet’s operations are coordinated with the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority.

Portugal acquired 13 Black Hawks through its Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR): nine for rural firefighting and four for medical emergency support. The Air Force says the helicopters can reach locations that are difficult for firefighters to access and that they entered direct fire response operations for the first time this year. This marks a new phase in the use of military aircraft for civilian emergency missions.

Defence Minister Nuno Melo and Air Force Chief of Staff General Sérgio Pereira said they expect C-130 aircraft fitted with two firefighting kits to be operational in 2027. The kits cost about €16 million. Melo said heavier Canadair firefighting aircraft are also expected to join the fleet in 2029 and 2030. These are the government and Air Force’s target dates; they do not guarantee future operational performance or a fixed delivery schedule.

Rui Rocha, the state secretary responsible for civil protection, said the number of fires was 5.4% higher than in 2025, while the area burned by 19 October was 72.4% lower. The two measures capture different things: a rise in reported fires does not automatically mean that a larger area has burned. The Air Force chief also stressed the importance of retaining trained personnel if the new capability is to remain available over time.