Overview of the Aegis program

Greece is set to significantly enhance the capabilities of its Civil Protection services through the Aegis program, involving a comprehensive budget of €2.1 billion.

This initiative, slated for advancement in 2025, will see the addition of more than 10 new aircraft and helicopters each, and over 1,100 fire engines.

It represents the most extensive equipment upgrade project in the history of Greek civil protection efforts.

Contracts for many of these procurements are already underway, with some expected to be concluded shortly and others in the final stages of tender processes.

These agreements will ensure the necessary enhancements are available for effective civil protection and disaster response across the nation.

Details on the new equipment

The Aegis program includes the procurement of three twin-engine aircraft that will act as aerial operations centres, aiding in the monitoring and data recording across Greece’s 13 regions.

Additionally, five new Canadair CL-515 firefighting aircraft valued at €260 million and three medium-sized helicopters costing €75 million are set to be acquired for various critical missions, including medical aid and disaster response.

These resources will be complemented by new fire trucks, collapsible portable bridges, and other essential equipment, which are crucial for the rapid and effective response to natural disasters and other emergencies.

Upcoming tenders and future plans

The program also outlines upcoming tenders with a combined budget of €513 million, scheduled to be announced by the end of the month.

These tenders will cover the procurement of 10 medium-type helicopters for the Fire Service, ambulances, emergency communication stations, and other specialised equipment for patrolling and evacuating citizens.

In notes to Kathimerini, Minister for Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, Vassilis Kikilias, commented on the urgency of these upgrades: “The climate crisis is developing rapidly and now more and more often we are faced with extreme weather phenomena that cause unprecedented natural disasters, so we are well aware that this year’s firefighting season will be very difficult and the battle we will fight a long one.”