Kepplair Starts Converting ATR 72 Into Water Bombers

Kepplair Evolution has flight tested an ATR 72 regional airliner that it plans to modify for a new role as a fire-fighting water bomber. The French company announced last week that it will now start converting the aircraft before starting an operational qualification program early next year as it targets an EASA supplemental type certificate.  

Founded in 2012, Kepplair is primarily focused on what it calls the 'Forest Keeper" platform to provide new options for fighting wild fires. The company also has plans to adapt ATR 72 passenger aircraft for cargo-carrying and medical evacuation roles. 

The conversion work will be conducted by Kepplair's partner Aerotec & Concept, which holds an EASA Part 21J design organization approval. The aircraft is currently housed in Aerotec’s hangar at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (LFBO) where it will be fitted with the proprietary Kepplair Evolution Delivery System (KEDS). 

Leasing group ACIA-Aero Capital has provided the initial test airframe for the project. KEDS has been developed in conjunction with the Toulouse Institute of Fluid Dynamics and Trotter Controls, which specializes in telemetry and drop systems.

According to Kepplair, by using an already-certified aircraft as the platform for a new water bomber will reduce the time to market by around three years, as well as significantly lowering costs for development, procurement, operations and maintenance. Another French company, Hynaero, is working on a clean-sheet design fire-fighting aircraft called the Fregate F100 that will not be ready to enter service until the early 2030.

Kepplair president and founder David Joubert said that the surge in serious wild fires across Europe over the summer season has strengthened the case for new water bombers. "We must offer concrete, robust and rapidly deployable solutions in the face of the evolving risk of forest fires,” he commented. 

In July 2026, maintenance company Corsica Technics signed a letter of intent to acquire 10 ‘Forest Keeper’ conversion kits for its own ATR 72s. To date, Kepplair has raised $17.5 million ($20.3 million) in two funding rounds, including $5 million in public grants from the France 2030 and European Regional Development Fund. A third round is currently underway to support the ongoing certification and industrialization phase.