Press Release: Arrival of the First KEPPLAIR 72 Prototype!

Press

Kepplair Evolution is continuing the development of its KEPPLAIR 72 “Forest Keeper” program with a major milestone: the upcoming arrival of its first prototype aircraft, expected in Toulouse-Blagnac during the summer of 2026. This prototype, based on an ATR 72 cargo aircraft made available by the ACIA Aero Capital Group, will be converted into a multi-role aerial firefighting aircraft. The conversion will be carried out by Aerotec & Concept, a European specialist in aircraft modifications, with the integration of the innovative KEDS water-drop system developed by Trotter Controls in collaboration with the Toulouse Institute of Fluid Mechanics (IMFT). An aircraft designed to meet tomorrow’s challenges The KEPPLAIR 72 is capable of carrying up to 7.5 tonnes of water for firefighting operations. Its multi-mission design also allows it to be used for cargo transportation or medical evacuation, providing operators with unique flexibility. Against the backdrop of increasingly frequent wildfires and the aging of firefighting aircraft fleets worldwide, the KEPPLAIR 72 program offers an innovative, sustainable and economically competitive solution. By using an already-certified ATR 72 platform, development and certification timelines are significantly reduced, with market entry planned as early as 2027. Significant technological and environmental benefits The project is built around a recognized industrial ecosystem and offers several major advantages: Accelerated market entry through the conversion of an existing aircraft; Significant reductions in development, operating and maintenance costs; A reduction in CO₂ emissions of up to 40% through the reuse of existing aircraft and optimized fuel consumption; Operational versatility enabling multiple missions to be performed with a single aircraft; A next-generation water-drop system offering optimized performance. The first water-drop tests are scheduled for the end of 2026, marking a crucial step toward obtaining the European and U.S. certifications required for commercial operation. A project supported by public authorities and industry The KEPPLAIR 72 program has received official support from the French State and the Occitanie Region under the France 2030 plan and the ERDF. It has also received a letter of interest from the Directorate General for Civil Protection and Crisis Management, highlighting its strategic importance for the renewal of aerial wildfire-fighting capabilities. Beyond its technological ambitions, the project contributes to the reindustrialization of the French and European aerospace sector by mobilizing high-level industrial expertise and strengthening strategic autonomy in a sector that is essential to protecting populations and the environment. With the arrival of this first prototype and the imminent launch of testing, Kepplair Evolution is now entering a decisive phase in the development of the KEPPLAIR 72, with the objective of delivering, from 2027, a new generation of higher-performance, more sustainable and better-adapted multi-role aerial firefighting aircraft to meet tomorrow’s challenges.