Retired Luftwaffe Transall Airlifters to Return as Armored Firefighting Aircraft

Two retired Transall C-160Ds, previously used by the German Air Force, are being prepared for a return to flight as firefighting aircraft. The aircraft, operated by Total Aeronautical Services (TAS), will be equipped with Kevlar armor inherited from their military career. The armor, installed by the Luftwaffe for operations in hostile environments, is seen as an asset by TAS. It will allow the aircraft to work over ground contaminated by unexploded ordnance, which is often a challenge when fighting fires in former military ranges and other munitions-contaminated areas. TAS aims to have the first aircraft operational for the summer 2027 wildfire season. The aircraft, allocated the registration D-AMJT, will be the first C-160 to fly on the German civil register. The project is supported by Germany's Federal Aviation Office (LBA) and Bundeswehr procurement agency BAAINBw. The conversion involves installing a Helitak tank inside the cargo hold, which can carry around 14 tonnes of water or retardant. The tank can be refilled on the ground in about three minutes. The system discharges the load through the belly near the aircraft's center of gravity, at up to 3,000 liters per second. This approach is different from the one used by the A400M kit France deployed over the Gironde in July, which releases the load through the rear ramp. The armored Transall, however, will be able to operate in areas where the A400M cannot due to the presence of unexploded ordnance. Germany is being reminded of the problem of fighting fires in areas contaminated by unexploded ordnance as the project advances. A recent fire in the Hürtgenwald in North Rhine-Westphalia has grown into what officials describe as the state's largest recorded forest fire. The fire, which broke out on August 13, 2026, has been difficult to attack from the ground due to the presence of unexploded ordnance. In May 2026, a fire at the former Jüterbog training area in Brandenburg burned at least 152 hectares under similar constraints. The armored Transall is expected to be able to operate in these areas, providing a valuable asset for firefighting efforts. The project is moving quickly, with the first aircraft expected to be operational in less than six years after the Luftwaffe retired the type. This is a significant development, as it will allow the Transall to return to German skies and provide a new capability for firefighting efforts. The success of the project will depend on the ability of the aircraft to operate safely and effectively in areas contaminated by unexploded ordnance. If successful, the armored Transall will provide a valuable asset for firefighting efforts in Germany and potentially other countries.