Newsroom
The Ministry of Defence has finalized a leasing deal for four Black Hawk helicopters to strengthen Cyprus’ firefighting capacity ahead of the 2026 wildfire season.
The agreement, signed on Friday with the Slovak firm HELI COMPANY, secures the use of the aircraft during the critical fire-risk period. Officials say the addition of these helicopters is expected to significantly improve the country’s ability to both prevent and combat wildfires, while helping safeguard lives and protect natural landscapes.
The lease will run from April 1 through October 31, 2026, with an option to extend it by an additional 30 days if required for operational reasons.
The contract was signed by Panagiotis Symeou, Director of Defence, representing the Ministry, and by HELI COMPANY’s CEO, Dzurus Josef.
According to the announcement, the Ministry is continuing broader efforts to strengthen preparedness and response capabilities, particularly by upgrading aerial firefighting resources in line with the needs of emergency services.
