Aviation News – French aerospace startup Kepplair announced on May 28, 2026, that it has successfully secured its first prototype aircraft to begin testing a specialized firefighting variant of the ATR 72-600 turboprop. This milestone advances the development of modern, highly efficient regional aerial firefighting tools to combat increasingly severe global wildfires.
The vital airframe comes courtesy of ACIA-Aero Capital, a prominent aircraft leasing firm specializing in regional aircraft and support services. As a core strategic partner of Kepplair, the lessor provided the twin-engine turboprop specifically to validate the startup’s engineering designs. The announcement marks the culmination of months of technical alignment between the leasing company and the startup’s development team.
Logistics teams will deliver the regional airliner to Kepplair later this summer at an unspecified date. Upon its arrival at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS), which serves as the startup’s primary operational base, engineering teams will immediately induct the airframe into the modification hangar. The selection of Toulouse provides the venture with direct access to a world-class aerospace ecosystem and specialized technicians.
The modification process requires integrating a custom-designed firefighting kit and retardant delivery systems directly into the regional airliner’s existing structure. This conversion transforms the fuel-efficient passenger turboprop into a high-capacity water bomber capable of operating from shorter regional runways closer to active wildfire zones. Mechanically, the onboard system controls the flow and dispersal patterns of water or chemical retardant, maximizing drop precision over rugged terrain.