Following a question parliamentary question from Labour MP Neil Duncan-Jordan regarding the use of the RAF’s A400M Atlas being used as a deployable aerial firefighting capability for use in the UK and overseas territories.

Louise Sandher-Jones, UK Defence Minister said “Responsibility for responding to wildfires in the UK rests with the relevant civil authorities and emergency services, with military support potentially available where requested through established Military Aid to the Civil Authorities arrangements on a case-by-case basis. This includes consideration of a clear need for military assistance, whether the requirement is beyond the capability or capacity of the civil authority, and whether support can be provided without unacceptably prejudicing Defence's primary tasks, operational commitments, and readiness. The Ministry of Defence does not currently hold a requirement to provide a dedicated domestic aerial firefighting capability.”

Sandher-Jones highlighted the fact that the MoD does retains limited aerial firefighting capabilities to support standing tasks overseas and as part of this they maintain a helicopter based aerial firefighting capability in Cyprus for the specific purpose of meeting obligations to the Sovereign Base Areas and wider communities during periods of heightened wildfire risk.

 “The Department is aware of the Airbus A400M aerial firefighting system currently under development and testing by the manufacturer. Consequently, the Department has no plans to adapt the RAF A400M Atlas fleet for aerial firefighting purposes, or to procure dedicated water-bombing helicopters or water-bombing equipment for the military helicopter fleet.
Said Sandher-Jones.