Reuters, on Climate, 22 October 2026

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Britain to use military aircraft to fight climate change-fuelled wildfires

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British Royal Air Force Chinook helicopter lands in Amari Air Base, Estonia January 17, 2023. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab LONDON, Oct 22 (Reuters) - Britain said on Thursday it would for the first ​time use military helicopters and ‌aircraft to fight wildfires after its hottest summer on record, as the ​government steps up efforts to ​combat a threat it says ⁠is being fuelled by climate ​change.

The Royal Air Force's Chinook helicopters ​and A400M transport aircraft to be equipped with wildfire firefighting capability. The military aircraft ​are to be available to ​support emergency services battling blazes in remote areas. Government ‌to ⁠provide up to £45 million ($60.15 million) for specialist response teams and firefighter equipment. Government to invest £25 million in ​peatland restoration ​and ⁠support farmers to reduce wildfire risk.

New AI unit ​to be established to help ​predict ⁠and track wildfires. Government to work with the Met Office, Britain's national ⁠meteorological ​service, to improve ​wildfire forecasting and risk assessment. ($1 = 0.7482 pounds) Sign up here. Reporting by ​Sam Tabahriti; editing by Michael Holden Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab Suggested Topics: United Kingdom Climate Change Climate Solutions X Facebook Linkedin Email Link Purchase Licensing Rights

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About this analysis

Reuters reports that the British government will, for the first time, equip RAF Chinook helicopters and A400M aircraft to fight wildfires, alongside funding for response teams, peatland restoration, an AI unit and Met Office forecasting. The article ties the wildfires to climate change in its headline and links the move to Britain's hottest summer on record. Nothing in it misleads the reader.

What it gets right

  • “climate change-fuelled wildfires”

    Reuters states the climate link in its own headline, without hedging. This matches the documented record that warming has made fire weather more frequent and severe.

  • “after its hottest summer on record”

    The article places the new wildfire measures in the context of record heat. That gives the reader the reason for the policy, not just a list of equipment.

  • “Government to invest £25 million in ​peatland restoration ​and ⁠support farmers to reduce wildfire risk”

    The article reports what the spending is for and what it buys. It does not present climate adaptation as bare cost.

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