De Havilland faces global demand surge for Canadair water bombers

Global demand for Canadair ‘Super Scooper’ amphibious firefighting aircraft is surging as wildfires intensify in Canada, the United States, and Europe. De Havilland Canada, which revived the production line in 2022 after it was discontinued by Bombardier in 2015, is facing significant pressure to increase output to meet international needs.

Currently, De Havilland has orders for 38 aircraft from countries including France, Spain, Greece, Italy, and Portugal. However, due to a complex supply chain where over 80% of components are sourced within Canada and much of the assembly is performed by hand, production is slow. The company can currently produce approximately 10 aircraft per year, with the first new deliveries expected in 2028 and subsequent orders delayed until 2032 or 2033.

To address the shortage, De Havilland is evaluating the expansion of a second production line, which could double annual output to 20 aircraft. The company has indicated that a bulk order of 50 aircraft from the Canadian federal government would provide the necessary certainty to immediately begin this expansion. Meanwhile, political leaders in France and Spain have criticized their respective governments for insufficient firefighting fleets, and Canadian provincial premiers are calling for federal support to secure more aircraft.