Kepplair Evolution tests modified ATR72 as firefighting platform

A modified ATR72 turboprop flew over Toulouse, France, on September 1, 2026, as part of an effort by French startup Kepplair Evolution to develop the aircraft into a new-generation firefighting platform. The flight was a pre-modification sortie, according to the company, which says it intends to move quickly on the programme.

Kepplair Evolution is targeting the start of 2027 for its first tests that mimic real firefighting conditions. Toulouse is home to ATR's assembly line, so turboprops of this kind are common in the area, but this particular flight drew attention because of the role the aircraft is intended to fill.

The programme comes as demand for aerial firefighting capacity grows. In 2026, major forest fires burned large areas in western and northern France and in the Netherlands, regions well outside the Mediterranean basin where such fires have traditionally been concentrated. The source attributes the expanding threat to global warming.

Existing options are limited, the company argues. The Canadair CL-series amphibious aircraft, a primary firefighting platform for several European countries, is no longer in production and the remaining airframes are ageing. DeHavilland Canada, which took over Canadair, is developing a replacement, the DHC-515, but that aircraft is several years from entering service. Helicopters and single-engine firefighting aircraft made by Air Tractor carry much less water.