The EU's rescEU reserve fleet currently consists of 18 firefighting aircraft and 5 helicopters.

Omissions

• Sources describing the fleet report 4 helicopters (not 5) for the 2025 season; no source found explicitly states 5 helicopters in the rescEU fleet.
• The European Commission notes that the first rescEU helicopter was delivered to Romania in January 2026 and is operational for the 2026 wildfire season, which is the most plausible basis for a 5th helicopter but does not confirm a total of 5.
• Some sources (Euractiv) describe the 18 firefighting planes as being 'in the pipeline' (planned/procured), rather than all currently operational, which affects whether the 18 refers to the present or future fleet.
• The specific publication dates of the secondary sources could not be fully established within the search limit.

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean Commission – rescEU (Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid)The first helicopter of the rescEU fleet, delivered to Romania in January 2026, so is operational for the ongoing 2026 wildfires season.
• SecondaryDefence24 – Wildfire response systems in Southern EuroperescEU (EU strategic reserve) pre-positioned 18 aircraft, 4 helicopters, and 671 firefighters from 14 nations before the start of the 2025 [season]
• SecondaryAirMedAndRescue – EU to the rescEUTo fight wildfires, the European Commission formed teams of firefighters and a fleet of 18 firefighting planes and four helicopters across 10 [countries]
• SecondaryEuractiv – Europe readies record wildfire response forceThere are plans to expand, however, with 18 new firefighting planes and three additional helicopters in the pipeline and due to be in place by [a future date]