Two Australian water bomber helicopters landed in Mont-de-Marsan on August 5, 2026. A response to Emmanuel Macron’s call for help, to strengthen the fight against the fires ravaging Gironde and Landes, where more than 45,000 hectares have already burned. Never before seen on European soil: twenty-four firefighters from the Rural Fire Service of New South Wales, one of the largest volunteer fire services in the world, accompanied the convoy of the two devices.
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Every summer, Australia faces titanic fires: nearly 38 million hectares of savannah go up in smoke each year in the north-central part of the country. The “Black Summer” of 2019-2020 still haunts memories – more than 8 million hectares destroyed, nearly three billion animals killed. From these hellish summers, Canberra has drawn operational artillery that Europe still does not possess.
In January 2020, in the middle of the “Black Summer”, France sent five Civil Security officers to support the Australians for around ten days. Six years later, Canberra returns the favor. The reversal of seasons between the two hemispheres also facilitates exchange: during this period, Australian firefighters, mobilized especially during their southern winter, have their hands freer. For Canberra, being present also means cultivating a strategic relationship. Announcing the shipment of the devices on July 31, 2026, Foreign Minister Penny Wong welcomed France “a close and valued friend”.
What the Chinook can do, and our Canadairs cannot
Thirty meters long, 268 km/h peak, 11,300 liters of water on board – almost double that of a Canadair. The CH-47D Chinook, derived from the American military helicopter for Vietnam designed by Boeing in the 1960s, impresses with its size. But its real strength lies elsewhere: it flies at night.
In France, after dark, Canadair, Dash and helicopters remain on the ground. Question of safety: our water bombers drop at very low altitude, barely thirty meters, so that the water hits its target before dispersing. In the dark, the maneuver becomes perilous. The Chinook, for its part, frees itself from this. Helicopter, it slows down, adjusts its position above the focus and releases with precision, without having to skim the ground at high speed. Its military night vision equipment transforms into routine what would be suicidal for a Canadair.
Another reinforcement from Australia: the Bell 412, seventeen meters long, eight passengers, dedicated to reconnaissance and support. On the French side, the season also has its novelty: the A400M, a military transport plane engaged for the first time against a fire. It drops 20,000 liters of water or retardant in a few seconds – the equivalent of three Canadairs – and also flies at night.
On the evening of July 23, Emmanuel Macron requested the activation of the European civil protection mechanism, this system which allows a Member State in crisis to call on its neighbors. The call has been heard. Spanish, Italian, Croatian and Greek Canadair, Portuguese and Swedish Air Tractor, Czech and Slovak Black Hawk heavy helicopters: reinforcements are pouring in, supported by land resources coordinated from Brussels. At the beginning of August, the results were dizzying: more than 117,000 hectares burned since the start of the season, more than 14,000 fires. A record season, which is catching up with a country long convinced of being safe from incendiary summers.
