It has been reported that the German defense procurement agency, BAAINBw, have contracted Total Aeronautical Services GmbH to convert two retired German Air Force Transall C-160D aircraft into civilian firefighting platforms. No date has been announced for the first test flight but the first aircraft are planned to be operational to fight fires during the 2027 European wildfire season.

The Transall C-160D was a twin-turboprop tactical military transport aircraft operated by the German Air Force from 1968, built by a Franco-German consortium. The Luftwaffe operated 110 aircraft that were phased out as the Airbus A400M entered service, with the final active wing disbanded in 2021.

They will be fitted an internal roll-on, roll-off Helitak tank system capable of holding 14,000 kg (3,698.4 gal.) of water or fire retardant. In 2023 three former German Transalls were transferred to Australia to McDermott Aviation who converted them to the firefighting role using the Helitak Fire Fighting system.