Sikorsky has announced a partnership with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) to explore the potential of autonomous aerial firefighting. The five-year collaboration will focus on developing and integrating new technologies to enhance the safety and efficiency of the agency’s operations. According to Sikorsky, “autonomous-enabled” aircraft will reduce pilot workload, improve situational awareness, and give first responders the flexibility to perform complex missions in dangerous and deteriorating conditions, day or night.
In April, Sikorsky conducted exercises in southern California using its autonomous Black Hawk helicopter equipped with the airframer’s Matrix autonomous operating system, demonstrating the potential of autonomy to help crewed and uncrewed firefighting helicopters find and suppress early-stage wildfires.
The company has had a long history with California’s firefighting agencies, which approached Sikorsky during the 1990s to develop a specialized fire attack helicopter, an effort that resulted in the development of the Firehawk. A derivative of Sikorsky’s Blackhawk, the S-70 is equipped with a 1,000-gallon water tank, retractable snorkel, twin turbine engine, and night vision capability.
Cal Fire operates a fleet of 16 Firehawks as its primary firefighting helicopter, including its two newest, which were delivered over the past few months.
"The development of autonomous wildfire suppression capabilities will be a game-changer in our efforts to protect communities from the growing threat of wildfires,” said Sikorsky v-p and general manager Rich Benton. “By leveraging cutting-edge technologies and enhancing the safety and efficacy of operations, this collaboration has the potential to revolutionize the way we respond to wildfires, protecting citizens for generations to come.”