On February 17, 2026, the Government of Alberta announced a $400 million deal to buy five new firefighting planes to help protect communities like Sherwood Park, Alberta. The province says these new waterbombers will help crews respond faster to wildfire threats across the region.
The new aircraft will be built by De Havilland Canada at a new manufacturing site in Wheatland County. These planes are designed to be faster and more efficient than the four older models the province is currently using to fight fires.
While the contract is now official, the first of the five new planes is not expected to be delivered until 2031. The provincial government plans to use these aircraft to replace its aging fleet of tankers that have become more difficult to maintain over the years.
This purchase is part of a larger plan to improve emergency response near Sherwood Park. In July 2025, the province provided $3.85 million to the Cooking Lake Airport to fix its runway so it can support more emergency service flights during busy fire seasons.
Local representative Nate Glubish and Forestry Minister Todd Loewen say these investments are necessary to keep residents safe during high-risk years. The new planes will eventually be based in Alberta to ensure the province has its own dedicated equipment for future emergencies.
