Business · Companies · 4 hrs ago
Canada offers De Havilland up to $2.5 billion to expand water bomber production
Canada is offering De Havilland Canada up to $2.5 billion in financing to increase production of its Canadair water bombers.
The funding will come as loans and loan guarantees through Export Development Canada, but the interest rates and repayment terms are confidential.
A second assembly line in Alberta is planned as part of the expansion.
De Havilland says the new line will help it double production capacity to as many as 20 aircraft a year.
The company also plans to use the financing for new staff and production in Victoria, Calgary and Ontario.
The planes scoop up water and drop it on wildfires, and demand for amphibious firefighting aircraft is rising as wildfires grow in scale and intensity.
The financing is intended to help expand production; the sources do not give a timetable for the plans.
The federal government is pledging up to $2.5 billion in financing to De Havilland Canada to increase production of Canadair water bombers.
The financing will support a second assembly line in Alberta.
De Havilland says the line will help double production capacity to as many as 20 aircraft a year.
The company also plans to use the funds for new staff and production in Victoria, Calgary and Ontario.
The government says the financing will come as loans and loan guarantees through Export Development Canada.
- Who
- The federal government and De Havilland Canada.
- What
- The government is offering up to $2.5 billion in loans and loan guarantees to support increased production of Canadair water bombers.
- When
- November 3, 2026.
- Where
- The new assembly line will be in Alberta. The company also cited production and staffing plans in Victoria, Calgary and Ontario.
- Why
- To ramp up production of firefighting aircraft as demand rises amid increasingly intense and large wildfires.
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- Maximum financing
- $2.5 billion
- Financing provider
- Export Development Canada
- New assembly line
- Alberta
- Potential annual production capacity
- 20 water-scooping planes
- Water capacity
- More than 6,000 litres in 12 seconds