With the increase in the burning areas in the regions of the north and southeast of the Kingdom, the need has arisen to support the fleet of aircraft specialized in extinguishing fires "Kanadir", of which the Kingdom currently has 11 aircraft.
During the current year, the Royal Air Force has reinforced its fleet with three new aircraft that entered the service phase after conducting various flight exercises.
The need for these aircraft emerges during each summer period with rising temperatures and the resulting massive fires that threaten the forest cover, as their interference in difficult places is a crucial element in controlling the course of the fire.
These aircraft can carry 6 tons of water mixed with some materials to form a chemical foam that extinguishes fires. They can also land outside the runways and on unpaved roads, as well as on the surfaces of rivers and seas, carry large amounts of water from valleys and fly at a low altitude.
Mohamed Radzi, a specialist in public affairs, said that Morocco has accumulated an important experience in extinguishing forest fires, which have become seasonal every year with the advent of summer.
Radzi added, in a statement to the Hespress online newspaper, that Morocco chose to buy the Canadian planes, despite their high cost, equivalent to 25 million euros.
The specialist in public affairs stressed that these aircraft demonstrated unparalleled efficiency in extinguishing fires in a short time thanks to the speed of their flights.
Radzi stated that Morocco remains the only African country that has such aircraft, which will enhance its continental leadership and make it available to our neighbors when needed.
Morocco was included in the list of only 20 countries around the world that owns the "CL415" model of the "Canada" aircraft, while King Mohammed VI had previously given instructions to conclude a new deal to buy three other planes, the price of which was paid.
During the past season, these aircraft participated in fighting 15 fires in various regions of the Kingdom, with more than 100 sorties and 600 shooting down operations.
The value of one Canadir plane is about 25 million euros, equivalent to 265 million Moroccan dirhams. In addition to Morocco, Canada, France, South Korea, Spain, the United States of America, Portugal, Colombia, India, and Mexico are available on this type of aircraft.