Paris, June 16, 2025:
– De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited (“De Havilland Canada”) is pleased to announce the province of Manitoba has confirmed their intent to purchase three De Havilland Canadair 515 (DHC 515) – the next generation of the world-renowned aerial firefighting aircraft.
This provincial commitment marks another milestone in the DHC 515 program, signaling additional domestic support for Canadian aerospace innovation and the urgent need for modern, reliable tools in the fight against increasingly severe wildfires across North America.
“We are proud to be working with the Province of Manitoba, a long-term operator of CL-215 and CL-415 aerial firefighting aircraft, for the renewal of its fleet,” said Jean-Philippe Côté, Vice President, Programs and Business Improvement at De Havilland Canada. “The De Havilland Canadair 515 represents the future of wildfire suppression, and we are proud of the trust Manitoba has placed in us to support their hard-working firefighting teams.”
The DHC 515 builds upon the proven legacy of the CL-215 and CL-415 aircraft, featuring modern avionics, enhanced performance, and increased efficiency. With climate change contributing to longer and more intense wildfire seasons, the De Havilland Canadair 515 is specifically designed to meet the operational challenges faced by today’s aerial firefighters.
“Prior to this record breaking wildfire season in our province, Manitoba has been very proactive in ordering the three DHC-515 waterbombers,” said Earl W. Simmons, Executive Director of the Manitoba Wildfire Service. “Given the annual increase in the length of the wildfire season along with the number of and the intensity of these wildfires we are pleased to work with De Havilland Canada to put another tool in our firefighting toolbox to respond to these events.”
This new commitment also represent a major investment in the Canadian economy. De Havilland Canada is designing, building, and assembling the DHC 515 entirely in Canada, reinforcing the country’s aerospace leadership while creating high-quality Canadian jobs across engineering, advanced manufacturing, and skilled trades. The program supports a broad national supply chain, drawing on the strengths of Canadian suppliers and service providers coast to coast.
“By building the DHC 515 in Canada, we are not only delivering a world-class firefighting aircraft — we’re investing in Canadian workers, growing Canadian expertise, and strengthening our national industrial base,” said Côté.
Manitoba is expected to finalize procurement details in the coming months, contributing to a growing international interest in the aircraft. These commitments support the continuation of De Havilland Canada’s domestic production line at its Calgary-based facility and help secure highly skilled Canadian aerospace jobs.
DHC is also in discussion with many other undisclosed operators for further orders of DHC-515 aircraft and are confident it will be in position to announce more orders in the upcoming months. The new orders will bolster Canada’s aerial firefighting fleet and reaffirm the aircraft’s status as the gold standard in amphibious firefighting worldwide.
