Swiss Air Force helicopters crossed the border with France to collect water for thirsty cows

Swiss Air Force Cougar helicopters have crossed the border to collect water for cattles.

A really weird and unexpected incursion into the French airspace took place at the end of July.

According to what “Neue Zürcher Zeitung” (“NZZ”), two Swiss Air Force Eurocopter AS332 Super Puma helicopters equipped with bambi buckets collected more than 50,000 liters of water from Lac des Rousses border lake, in France.

Although the Swiss Air Force requested permission to enter the French airspace to the French Air Force, the local authorities and police were caught by surprise by the cross-border incursion that almost led to a diplomatic upset.

Swimmers and fishermen enjoying the waters of the lake, located in the Jura mountains, in eastern France were particularly startled by the unexepcted arrival of the choppers.

Newsworthy, the Swiss military helicopters were involved in a larger operation that saw the military pumping water for livestock from Swiss lakes for over a week. In fact, thirsty cows produce less milk, of particular concern in the mountainous Jura region of France and Switzerland where milk is used by producers to make prized cheeses are produce.

H/T to Jan Hildebrandt for the heads-up

Image credit: Wiki

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About David Cenciotti

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David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.