Twelve purchased firefighting planes are only a beginning for the EU fleet.

Omissions

• The 12 planes are funded/contracted but NOT yet delivered: the European Commission states the first airplanes are expected in 2027 (2024 ECHO release) and more recently that deliveries are expected 'early 2028'. The claim's past-tense wording ('gekauften') implies they are already in service, which overstates the current operational reality.
• The claim omits that the rescEU aerial firefighting fleet already includes operational aircraft (e.g. four Swedish-hosted AT-802F FireBoss planes in service since 2020) and that Member States are directly purchasing 10 additional firefighting planes for national fleets, so the 12 planes are part of a broader effort rather than the sole acquisition.
• The statement 'can only be a beginning' is a subjective/political opinion about future needs, not a verifiable datum.

Sources

• PrimaryEuropean Commission - DG ECHO: rescEU firefighting airplanes production launchedThe EU funds will enable the acquisition of a total of 12 new firefighting planes, which will be distributed among six EU Member States (Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain)... The first airplanes are expected to be delivered in 2027... 10 additional firefighting planes are being purchased by Member States directly to reinforce their national fleets.
• PrimaryEuropean Commission - rescEU (European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations)the European Commission has allocated significant financial resources to the acquisition of 12 new firefighting planes to be based in Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Croatia, and Greece as well as 5 helicopters... These aircraft will form the 'permanent rescEU fleet'... The first planes are expected to be delivered early 2028.