Helicopter · Civil Protection
Dragon EC145 / H145: the Civil Protection Service’s all-rounder helicopter
Code Dragon followed by the department number: the yellow and red vehicle that everyone has seen driving past at some point. Mountain rescue, sea rescue, medical evacuations — 15,935 operations in 2024 — and, on the front line, acting as a lookout, a liaison and a transport vehicle. A profile of the most versatile of French vehicles.
Key points
- 37 Dragon helicopters (EC145 and H145) spread across 23 bases in mainland France and the overseas territories.
- 15,935 operations in 2024 : the primary mission is to rescue people, not to fight fires.
- On fires : drop guidance, transport of teams, aerial reconnaissance — and supplementary airdrops for some H145s.
- The new H145s can carry a fuel tank of 800 to 1,000 litres water, depending on the model and equipment.
- Fleet renewal underway: a fleet of around 40 H145s by 2029, as evidenced by orders placed in 2021, 2023 and 2026.
Nearly 70 years of helicopters in the service of rescue operations
The history of the Dragons began in 1957, with the creation of the Civil Protection helicopter fleet. The very next year, the first Alouette II helicopters entered service for rescue operations. These were followed by the Alouette IIIs, the Dauphins, and then, in 1988, the Écureuil AS350B1s, which specialise in fighting forest fires.
The modern turning point came in 2002 With the EC145: glass cockpit, large payload capacity, powerful winch — it became the face of the Dragon for two decades. Since 2021, his successor, the H145 is gradually taking over, a transition set to be completed in 2029.
Establishment of the Civil Protection Helicopter Unit.
The first Alouette II helicopters are entering service for rescue missions.
Arrival of the Écureuil AS350B1 helicopters, specialised in fighting forest fires.
Commissioning of the EC145, which represents a major modernisation of the Dragon fleet.
Delivery of the first new-generation H145s, as part of the aviation recovery plan.
An order for a further 36 H145s to replace the EC145s, in addition to the H145 D3s already ordered.
A joint order for 42 new H145 helicopters has been announced for the Civil Protection Service and the Gendarmerie, featuring a mission system designed to enhance interoperability.
Objective: a fleet of around 40 H145 helicopters, completely renewed.
Anatomy of a multi-purpose rescue helicopter
A mobile resuscitation ambulance
The Dragon’s cabin is fitted out like a intensive care unit : heart monitor, ventilator, syringe pump, intubation kit… Everything needed to treat a critically ill patient from the moment they are winched out and keep them alive until they reach hospital.
A winch for hazardous environments
The winch — approximately 270 kg capacity — is the Dragon’s signature tool. It hoists a victim up from a rock face, a canyon, the deck of a ship or an inaccessible rooftop – places where no land-based vehicle can reach.
State-of-the-art avionics
The H145 is equipped with a upgraded avionics, reinforced sensors and excellent performance at high altitudes — a decisive advantage in high-altitude mountain regions as well as in challenging urban areas.
A drop tank… on certain versions
The latest H145s can carry a fuel tank of 800 to 1,000 litres to play a direct part in extinguishing fires at an early stage. However, this capability depends on the version of the aircraft and its equipment: by no means do all Dragon aircraft carry out air-to-ground drops.
Assisting people: our core business
Before being a key player in firefighting, the Dragon is first and foremost a rescue helicopter — that is its raison d’être. Searching for missing persons, mountain and sea rescue, and emergency medical evacuations: the Dragons carry out these missions all year round, from 23 bases spread across the country, both in mainland France and the overseas territories. In 2024, they totalled 15,935 operations.
The pilots, many of whom come from the Army Light Aviation (ALAT), are among the most experienced in the country: they operate in ‘hostile’ environments, between the walls of a leeward canyon or along a cliff face, sometimes at night. Responsiveness is their hallmark: a Dragon crew is generally ready to take off within less than 30 minutes, often far fewer. This demanding profession has its downside: several crews have lost their lives whilst on duty, a reminder of the courage required for such operations.
On forest fires: the lookout, the messenger and the carrier
In the event of a fire, the Dragon does not play the same role as the Canadair or the chartered water-bombing helicopters. Its contribution is more low-key, but plays a key role:
- Guiding the water-bombing aircraft : as it climbs, the Dragon surveys the entire disaster area and helps to guide the airdrops, in addition to the Beechcraft King Air coordinator.
- Transporting staff : it quickly deploys teams of fire brigade and their equipment to areas that are difficult to access, where the journey would be too long or impassable.
- Carrying out aerial reconnaissance : flying over a high-risk area, assessing the extent of a fire, identifying access points and critical locations — valuable intelligence for the command.
- And sometimes, to cast off : H145 helicopters fitted with a fuel tank of between 800 and 1,000 litres can tackle incipient fires directly, acting as a backup.
Detailed technical specifications
| Manufacturer | Airbus Helicopters |
|---|---|
| Models | EC145 (since 2002) and the new-generation H145 (since 2021) |
| Type | Twin-engine rescue and utility helicopter |
| Legal status in France | Owned by the State, operated by the Civil Protection Service |
| Current fleet | 37 aircraft (target: approximately 40 H145s by 2029) |
| Basics | 23 in mainland France and the overseas territories |
| Activity | 15,935 operations in 2024 |
| Payload capacity | Up to 8 people |
| Emergency winch | Capacity ≈ 270 kg |
| Cabin | Fitted out as a resuscitation ambulance |
| Drop capacity | 800–1,000-litre fuel tank on some recent versions of the H145 |
| Take-off delay | Less than 30 minutes (often much less) |
| Cost (H145) | ≈ 13 million euros each |
| Radio call sign | Dragon + county number |
The 2026 fleet: 37 Dragons undergoing a major overhaul
Unlike the Canadair helicopters, whose replacement programme is stalling, the modernisation of the Dragon helicopters is well under way. Following the delivery of the first H145s from 2021 as part of the aviation recovery plan, an order for 36 additional aircraft was placed in late 2023, followed in early 2026 by a joint order for 42 H145 for the Civil Protection Service and the Gendarmerie. Deliveries will continue until 2029, for a target fleet of around 40 modern helicopters — a total investment of around 450 million euros.
Behind the machines are the people: the Civil Protection Service has over a hundred pilots and just as many flight engineers. And there is an ironclad discipline when it comes to maintenance — all the 800 flying hours, each aircraft is sent to the centre in Nîmes for a full overhaul. A recurring source of pride: the Dragons regularly take part in the 14 July air parade — in 2025, it was a new-generation H145 that flew over the Champs-Élysées, symbolising the ongoing transformation.
Dragon or Super Puma? The all-rounder versus the specialist
Both are helicopters, but they serve different purposes: the Dragon is state-owned and carries out a wide range of tasks, whilst the Super Puma is leased and specialises in heavy cargo drops.
Dragon EC145 / H145
- Owned by the State, 37 aircraft
- Primary mission: helping people
- In the line of fire: guidance, transport, reconnaissance
- Spray capacity (800 to 1,000 L) available on certain models
- Essential for : saving lives all year round
Super Puma
- Leased as summer reinforcements, ≈ 6 aircraft
- Primary mission: heavy airdrops
- Capacity: up to 4,000 litres per drop
- Capable of dropping payloads at night
- Essential for : to strike hard at a burning fire
Frequently Asked Questions about the Dragon
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Aircraft and helicopters in the air, active fires, today’s alerts: the real-time maps on the Forest Fires website link each page in this section to the situation on the ground. And if you witness a fire breaking out, call 112 first and foremost.