Cyprus leases Black Hawk wildfire helicopters for 2026

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Helicopter agreement strengthens fire response

Cyprus has signed an agreement with Slovakian company HELI COMPANY to lease four Black Hawk helicopters for aerial firefighting, ahead of the 2026 fire season. The deal was signed by Defence Director Panagiotis Symeou for the Ministry of Defence and CEO Dzurus Josef for HELI COMPANY.

Enhanced firefighting capacity

The leased helicopters will significantly enhance Cyprus’ operational capacity for preventing and combating forest fires, supporting both human safety and the protection of the natural environment.

Agreement duration and operational details

The agreement is valid from 1 April 2026 until 31 October 2026, with the option to extend for an additional 30 days if operationally necessary. The Ministry of Defence continues to take all measures to strengthen readiness and ensure the effective deployment of aerial firefighting assets according to operational needs.


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