Swiss Army extends firefighting mission in Corsica by four days
Three Swiss Super Puma helicopters will continue supporting French emergency forces against wildfires on the Mediterranean island for four more days.
With wildfires still burning in Corsica, the Swiss Armed Forces have extended their firefighting support mission on the French Mediterranean island for an additional four days. The three Super Puma helicopters of the Swiss Army continue to support French emergency forces in fighting forest fires in Corsica, with the mission extended by four additional days until Friday, August 7, 2026.
The three Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma helicopters have been operating in the region, airlifting water to douse the flames. Due to the continuing need for support, the Swiss Armed Forces are extending their fire-fighting mission in Corsica by a further four days, with three Super Puma helicopters assisting French emergency services. This extension reflects the persistent nature of the threat, as hot, dry conditions across the Mediterranean basin continue to fuel severe fire seasons.
Helicopter-based firefighting is a resource-intensive operation that requires precise coordination between pilots and ground crews. The Super Pumas, operated by the Swiss Air Force, are equipped to carry large volumes of water in external buckets, which they drop onto fire fronts to help contain their spread. The mission represents a cross-border civil protection effort, with Switzerland deploying its military assets in a support role for a fellow European nation.
The helicopters have already moved a significant amount of water. Swiss Army extends its Corsica firefighting mission by four more days with three Super Puma helicopters that have transported approximately 157 metric tons of water for firefighting as of Friday evening. That figure highlights the scale of aerial firefighting required to combat large blazes, where ground access can be limited by rugged terrain and the speed of the fire’s advance.
Such international assistance agreements are a standard part of European disaster response, allowing countries to share specialized assets during emergencies. The Swiss mission in Corsica operates under these pre-arranged frameworks, ensuring a rapid deployment of aid when local capacities are overwhelmed. The four-day extension suggests that while progress is being made, the fire situation remains serious enough to require sustained aerial support.
The ongoing mission underscores a broader pattern of increasingly severe and prolonged wildfire seasons across Southern Europe, driven by climate conditions that create longer periods of high fire risk. International firefighting assistance, whether through shared aircraft or personnel, has become a critical component of managing these annual crises. For now, the Swiss helicopters will keep flying over Corsica, working alongside French teams to bring the blazes under control.