Hiroshima receives world’s first firefighting-configured Airbus H160 ahead of 2026 entry

Hiroshima City Fire Services Bureau has received the first Airbus H160 configured for aerial firefighting, becoming the world’s inaugural operator of the medium-twin in a firefighting role. The handover positions Hiroshima to start operations with the type ahead of a planned 2026 entry into service.

Discovered 2025-10-26T19:09:05.754181-07:00 | 2025-10-26T19:09:05.754181-07:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

  • The delivery proves Airbus is moving the H160 from development into public-service operations as it ramps production — Airbus is targeting up to 60 H160s per year with more than 50 already operational, which will affect fleet procurement timelines for firefighting and public-service customers.
  • Hiroshima’s handover follows Airbus’s first H160 delivery in China, signalling growing civil adoption in APAC and shifting demand toward purpose-built medium twins for suppression and rescue missions.
  • The move sits within a broader market reconfiguration for aerial firefighting — from certified Super Puma growth in the U.S. market to restarted production of large scooper water-bombers — that is driving procurement and capability upgrades worldwide (Super Puma push, DHC-515 restart).

Reported By

horizon.mt heliopsmag.com helicoptersmagazine.com helicoptermaintenancemagazine.com aerobuzz.de mrobusinesstoday.com
Sources Tracked
17
First Seen
2025-10-26T19:09:05.754181-07:00
Latest Update
2025-11-03T00:15:56.266228-08:00
Coverage
Aviation

Sources

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