Ukrainian XENA Aircraft Battles Montenegro Forest Fires, Showcasing Aviation Expertise
The Ukrainian company XENA deployed an An-32P firefighting aircraft to extinguish large-scale forest fires in Montenegro, demonstrating the effectiveness and international recognition of Ukrainian aviation despite the ongoing war.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to Militarnyi and UNN.
The operation was made possible thanks to the support and funding of the United Arab Emirates, which covered all costs for fuel, crew work, and direct firefighting.
This mission was agreed upon after negotiations between Montenegrin Prime Minister Milojko Spajic and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The An-32P has unique technical characteristics that make it effective in fighting fires, especially in mountainous areas.
The aircraft can drop up to 8,000 liters of water in a single pass, covering an area of up to 35 by 160 meters or 20 by 300 meters with successive drops. In one hour, it can deliver up to 32,000 liters of water, operating at low altitude at a speed of 250-260 km/h, which significantly increases the efficiency of operations.
A key factor in its success is XENA's experienced team, most of whom are former military personnel with over 20 years of experience. They are capable of performing up to 10–12 missions per day in challenging conditions: strong winds in the mountains, high temperatures, and demanding flight schedules.
Founded in 2019, XENA was the first company in Ukraine to begin commercial operation of the An-32P and already has international experience: in Turkey, its crews have completed over 900 flights and dropped over 7 million liters of water.
The involvement of a Ukrainian aircraft in firefighting in Montenegro confirms that even in wartime, the Ukrainian aviation industry is capable of competing at the global level, offering unique solutions and highly qualified specialists.
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