# De Havilland Pitches Canadian Water-Bomber Fleet

De Havilland Aircraft of Canada is advocating for a proposed 50-aircraft national water-bomber fleet. Reporting based on leaked documents suggests Canada and the European Investment Bank may jointly purchase aircraft, but the procurement structure, ownership, funding, and timing remain unconfirmed. Separately, the federal government allocated $316.7 million over five years in 2026 to expand aerial firefighting capacity through the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, which selected a mix of other aircraft amid water-bomber shortages and delivery waits.

- **Why this matters:** The proposed fleet could create a significant aircraft supply opportunity, but it is not a confirmed procurement or award; suppliers should not assume a defined solicitation or buying structure.
- Companies assessing the opportunity should account for De Havilland’s production capacity and queued orders, which may constrain delivery.
- Procurement professionals should clarify whether any national fleet would be federally operated or support provincial wildfire response, as ownership and procurement arrangements have not been disclosed.
- The 2026 federal investment and CIFFC’s selection of other aircraft indicate that aerial firefighting capacity is also being expanded through alternative aircraft procurements.

**Jurisdictions:** international
**Industries:** Transportation, Public Safety
**Topics:** Emergency Response
**Published:** November 03, 2026

### Government Entities
- Government of Canada
- European Investment Bank (EIB)
- Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre (CIFFC)
- Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)

### Vendors
- De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited (Proposed aircraft manufacturer and prospective supplier)

### Sources
- [De Havilland Lobbies for 50-Aircraft National Water Bomber Fleet as Experts Question Whether It Answers Canada's Wildfire Crisis | AviNews](https://avi-go.com/news/articles/6be262792ce8176dd1cbac11e416d479) - Avi-Go