Military aircraft to be equipped to fight wildfires from the air
The UK government says RAF Chinook helicopters and A400M aircraft will be fitted to fight wildfires, backed by new funding for firefighters and land resilience.
The government has announced that RAF Chinook helicopters and A400M aircraft will be equipped to fight wildfires from the air for the first time, ready to support fire crews across the UK on remote moorland, steep hillsides and other hard-to-reach terrain when requested.
New funding for firefighters and equipment
The government says up to £45 million will back additional specialist wildfire teams and new lightweight, breathable protective equipment for firefighters in England. It says current kit is primarily designed for building fires and not intended to be worn for long periods, whereas the new equipment will allow firefighters to wear it for longer while tackling wildfires.
Investment in landscape resilience
To reduce the risk of fires starting, the government says it will invest £25 million to restore dried-out peatlands in England so they hold more water and act as natural firebreaks. It also says it will provide financial support for farmers to fireproof their land, including digging ponds and removing burnable materials in high-risk areas.
Tougher restrictions under consideration
The government says it will look at tougher local restrictions or product bans to stop people starting fires when the risk is high.
Further measures
Alongside the funding package, the government says it will set up a new Wildfires AI Unit within COBR's National Situation Centre, bringing together universities, technology firms and government to help spot and fight fires faster. It says it will also work with the Met Office to improve wildfire forecasting, develop England's first Wildfire Action Plan covering prevention, preparedness, response and recovery, and work more closely with the Devolved Governments on shared expertise.
The Ministry of Defence says the funding will, for the first time, allow it to develop an aerial firefighting capability permanently based in the UK. Civilian fire and rescue services across all four nations will continue to be able to request military firefighting support through the existing Military Aid to the Civil Authorities process.
The government says the new Peatland Restoration Grant Scheme will be run by Natural England and is expected to run from April 2027 to April 2029, building on the previous Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme.
The package was announced ahead of a summit where the Prime Minister met fire chiefs, local leaders and experts, which the government says followed the UK's hottest summer on record.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and Ministry of Defence, 22 October 2026.
Key takeaways
- The government says RAF Chinook helicopters and A400M aircraft will be equipped to fight wildfires from the air for the first time, available on request to help crews reach remote terrain.
- Up to £45 million will fund specialist wildfire teams and new lightweight, breathable protective equipment for firefighters in England, replacing kit designed for building fires.
- £25 million will go towards restoring peatlands in England to act as natural firebreaks, alongside financial support for farmers to fireproof land.
- The government says it will consider tougher local restrictions or product bans to prevent fires starting during high-risk periods.
- Other measures include a new Wildfires AI Unit, work with the Met Office on forecasting, and England's first Wildfire Action Plan.
FAQ
What aircraft will be used to fight wildfires?
The government says RAF Chinook helicopters and A400M aircraft will be equipped with firefighting capability, available when requested to help tackle blazes on remote moorland and hard-to-reach terrain.
How much funding has been announced?
The government says up to £45 million will back new wildfire teams and protective equipment for firefighters, with a further £25 million for peatland restoration.
What new equipment will firefighters get?
The government says firefighters will receive lightweight, breathable, wildfire-specific protective equipment, replacing current kit designed primarily for building fires.
Who announced this?
The announcement involved the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the Ministry of Defence, and the Prime Minister's Office, published on GOV.UK on 22 October 2026.