The National Aerial Firefighting Centre (NAFC) was incorporated in July 2003 by Australian States and Territories to provide more effective support for the combating of wildfires. It achieves this through national co-operative arrangements for aerial firefighting.

NAFC facilitates the establishment of a fleet of highly specialised firefighting aircraft that are readily available for use by State and Territory emergency agencies across Australia. This national aircraft fleet complements aerial firefighting resources that are arranged directly by the States and Territories. The national fleet receives funding support from the Australian Government as well as State and Territory Governments.

NAFC also plays a key role in ensuring the sharing of aerial firefighting resources between fire agencies throughout Australia, and in the development of national protocols and systems for aerial firefighting.