Barcelona, July 14th, 2025 – Vallfirest, a global leader in wildland firefighting equipment and innovation, has announced the acquisition of Aerial Fire Control PTY LTD, an Australian-based company renowned for its specialized aerial firefighting systems.
This strategic acquisition strengthens Vallfirest’s position in the global market and underscores the company’s commitment to enhancing the availability, performance, and technological evolution of aerial wildfire suppression tools. Aerial Fire Control’s advanced aerial firefighting buckets and helicopter mission solutions are widely respected throughout Oceania and more than a dozen countries globally over the past 25 years for their reliability and operational efficiency.
Since November 2024, Vallfirest has been supported by Suma Capital, a leading investment firm specializing in sustainable and impact-driven growth. Through its SC Expansion strategy, Suma Capital contributes to Vallfirest’s consolidation as a benchmark in advanced technological solutions for environmental protection.
Vallfirest CEO Javier Baena highlighted the strategic importance and vision of this first acquisition: “At Vallfirest, we believe the future of wildland firefighting is built on innovation, collaboration, and a deep understanding of the challenges on the ground—and in the air. Aerial Fire Control has built an extraordinary legacy. Together, we will take it to new heights by developing the next generation of aerial solutions that can make the difference between disaster and resilience”.
The integration of Aerial Fire Control’s manufacturing capabilities and technical expertise into Vallfirest’s product development pipeline is set to accelerate the rollout of next-generation aerial solutions designed to meet the growing challenges of extreme fire behavior and climate volatility.
Water Hog inventor, Founder, AFC’s Managing Director, Chris Black emphasized his enthusiasm to join with Vallfirest’s ongoing mission to innovate and support frontline wildfire response around the world: “After 25 years of innovating reliable, affordable helicopter buckets, we are excited to continue forward with the shared vision of Vallfirest and continue to create new aerial products that support critical, emergency response missions. Given their global wildfire presence, it is a perfect fit to continue the legacy of Water Hog products under the vft Vallfirest brand”.
Pau Bermúdez-Cañete, partner at Suma Capital, added: “Vallfirest is a prime example of how technology can become a powerful driver of decarbonization and growth. The acquisition of Aerial Fire Control strengthens this trajectory and expands Vallfirest’s product range and capabilities on an international scale”.
This acquisition marks a new chapter in Vallfirest’s global expansion and its enduring commitment to equipping wildland firefighters with the most effective, reliable, and forward-thinking tools available—both on the ground and in the air.
Where to Find More Information About Water Hog
To learn more about the Water Hog system—its technical specifications, operational capabilities, and availability under the vft Vallfirest brand—please visit our official product page:
You can also get in touch with our technical and sales teams directly at: info@vallfirest.com
About Vallfirest
Vallfirest is the leading manufacturer of equipment, tools and solutions for the wildland firefighting community. Their purpose is to revolutionize wildfire management by equipping professionals with cutting-edge tools and technology to manage wildfires safely and efficiently.
Today, Vallfirest provides solutions that support emergency services and land management agencies in more than 85 countries worldwide through a strong dealer network of more than 80 dealers, and manufacturing subsidiaries in North America (Colorado) and Uruguay (Montevideo).
www.vallfirest.com / www.vftnorthamerica.com
PR & Communications
press@vallfirest.com
About Aerial Fire Control PTY LTD
Based in Adelaide, Australia, Aerial Fire Control PTY LTD has designed, developed and delivered manufactured high-performance aerial firefighting equipment buckets for over 25 years. Their modular tank systems and drop control technologies are widely deployed across aerial firefighting fleets supporting external load, critical mission helicopter operations in multiple continents.
https://aerialfirecontrol.com/
About Suma Capital
Suma Capital is a leading alternative asset manager specialized in sustainability.
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Barcelona, it also has offices in Madrid, Paris and Milan. It manages over €1.2 billion through three investment strategies that drive the ecological transition:
- SC Infra: sustainable infrastructure for the energy transition and circular economy.
- SC Expansion: capital for growing SMEs leading decarbonization efforts.
- SC Venture: investment in tech startups and scale-ups accelerating climate transition.
Recognized as a European benchmark in impact investing, Suma Capital promotes a model of capital with a purpose that generates both economic and environmental value.
More information: www.sumacapital.com
Press contact:
HARMON
Álvaro Troyano / Raquel Mejías / William Solano
SumaCapital@harmon.es
