A Boeing 737 Fireliner will be based at RAAF Base Richmond permanently following a deal between the NSW government and contractor Coulson Aviation USA.
The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) will use the 737 large air tanker for firefighting purposes.
NSW RFS acting commissioner Rob Rogers said that the RFS had evaluated several different large and very large air tankers over recent fire seasons and had settled on the B737 Fireliner as the preferred option.
"This type of aircraft provides us with a fast, effective and flexible option for fighting fires year-round, and supporting firefighters on the ground," Mr Rogers said.
A Coulson Group statement said the B737 Fireliner is the first large air tanker ever purchased by a country, and its multi-role capability will be highlighted in this unique new operation.
Coulson vice president of aviation, Britton Coulson, said the B737 Fireliner was a "new generation" of airtanker.
"The goal was to utilise the latest SMART technology in our tanking system and create a multi-use firefighting aircraft that would create the best value for our customers," he said.
In 2018 the B737 Fireliner was FAA Certified as an air tanker and passenger transport. The Fireliner reportedly packs 15,150 litres of fluid with top performance in distance, speed and altitude while retaining the capability to transport up to 72 passengers.
The purchase is accompanied by a ten-year operational contract where Coulson Aviation will provide all flight and maintenance personal.
Coulson Aviation vice president sales and marketing, Foster Coulson, said: "With this contract now in place, Coulson Aviation PTY will establish a year-round operation in NSW to support its contracts at the RAAF base in Richmond where the B737 Fireliner will be pre-positioned to support the RFS this coming July."
Coulson has been operating under contract with the Australian National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) since 2000 and the 2018-2019 fire season marked the first year Coulson was the largest in-country operator of Type 1 Rotary and Fixed Wing Aircraft, including the C-130 Hercules fleet.
