Water bomber
7,500 L of water or retardant, released in continuous flow to lay a retardant line, or in a burst effect for a full drop in under 1.2 seconds.
KEPPLAIR 72 programme
The Forest Keeper
An ATR 72 converted into a multirole water bomber: rapid drop, cargo and medical evacuation on a single platform.
One platform, three missions
Built on the proven ATR 72-600 airframe, the KEPPLAIR 72 combines a next-generation electric drop system, the Kepplair Evolution Delivery System, with full modularity: water bomber during fire season, cargo or medical evacuation aircraft the rest of the year.
7,500 L
Water or retardant carried
< 1.2 s
For a full drop
8.5 t
Freight in cargo configuration
2 to 6
Patients evacuated per flight
500 km/h
Cruise speed
2
Pilots on board
Three configurations, one aircraft
The KEPPLAIR 72's modularity keeps it in service year-round, well beyond fire season alone.
Cargo
Up to 8.5 tonnes of freight across 75 m³ of usable volume, for logistics or humanitarian support missions outside fire season.
Medical evacuation
Medical configuration for the safe transport of 2 to 6 casualties, with medical staff and equipment on board.
Why the KEPPLAIR 72
Cost efficiency
Lower acquisition and operating cost than a dedicated aircraft designed from a blank sheet, thanks to the already-certified ATR 72 airframe.
Fleet availability
The same fleet can move between drop, cargo and medevac missions year-round, instead of staying grounded outside fire season.
Drop precision
KEDS optimizes every pass to reduce the number of rotations needed, and therefore fuel burned per hectare treated.
Complementary to the Canadair CL-415
Without in-flight scooping capability, the KEPPLAIR 72 reinforces existing fleets rather than replacing them, on missions where ground refilling remains practical.
KEDS: drops controlled to the tenth of a second
The Kepplair Evolution Delivery System relies on an electric architecture — no hydraulic circuit — developed with the Institut de Mécanique des Fluides de Toulouse and Trotter Controls. Two drop modes: continuous flow to lay a retardant line, or burst effect to empty the tank in under 1.2 seconds.
Developed with IMFT (Institut de Mécanique des Fluides de Toulouse) and Trotter Controls.
Programme timeline
2022
Feasibility study
Technical and regulatory validation of the conversion concept.
2024
Fundraising
Funding for the first development and certification phases.
2025 – 2026
Development & testing
Detailed design, systems integration and flight testing.
2027
Entry into service
Delivery of the first aircraft to partner operators.
Confirmed commercial interest
18 letters of intent worth up to €400 million have already been signed, while conversion of the first aircraft continues in Blagnac, at the Aerotec & Concept workshops.
18
Letters of intent signed
€400M
Maximum potential value
A project worth following
News, technical progress and funding opportunities: stay up to date on the KEPPLAIR 72's development.