RuAviation

Spain’s fleet of Kamov Ka-32A11BC firefighting helicopters has been withdrawn from service after European Union sanctions against Russia disrupted access to spare parts and manufacturer-supported maintenance, according to statements by Spanish officials and political representatives.

At least 10 Ka-32A11BC helicopters previously operated by Spanish firefighting agencies are no longer available for wildfire suppression missions. The aircraft had been used under contracts involving Spain’s Ministry for Ecological Transition and regional authorities, operating from bases in Andalusia, Aragon, Extremadura and Guadalajara.

The Ka-32 fleet has been inactive since 2024, after restrictions on Russian aerospace companies prevented the supply of components and the deployment of technical specialists required for maintenance and certification support. Madrid has acknowledged that sanctions affected the continued operation of the aircraft but has not sought an EU exemption to permit technical support for the helicopters.

The withdrawal has affected Spain’s wildfire response capability as the country faces increasingly severe fire seasons. Since the beginning of 2026, Spain has recorded 32 major wildfires, with approximately 153,000 hectares affected. Fires in the Madrid, Avila and Toledo regions alone have covered around 77,000 hectares, including a 50,000-hectare fire in Avila described as the largest recorded in the country’s meteorological history.

The Ka-32A11BC is a specialised firefighting variant of the coaxial-rotor Ka-32 helicopter family. The aircraft can carry more than 5,000 litres of water in a single firefighting sortie and is designed for operations in mountainous terrain and high-temperature environments.

Following the fleet withdrawal, Spanish operators have relied on Western-built helicopters for wildfire missions. Spanish media have reported that replacement aircraft involve higher operating costs and provide different performance characteristics compared with the Ka-32 in specialised firefighting operations.

The issue has become a point of political debate in Spain, with some lawmakers calling for an EU mechanism that would allow continued technical support for Russian-origin aircraft used in emergency response roles.