De Havilland has received 38 orders for Canadair amphibious firefighting aircraft from European nations, including France, Spain, Greece, Italy, and Portugal. However, due to component sourcing constraints and hand-assembly procedures, initial deliveries of the first two aircraft are expected in 2028 at the earliest.
At full capacity, the manufacturer produces around 10 aircraft per year, pushing delivery schedules for new orders out to 2032 or 2033. Originally launched in the 1960s, the Canadair line was acquired by Bombardier in 1986, paused in 2015, and restarted by De Havilland in 2022.
To expand capacity, De Havilland is evaluating a second assembly line to double annual output to 20 aircraft, provided the Canadian federal government issues a firm order for 50 planes. Based on official estimates, each aircraft costs approximately 80 million Canadian dollars.
