Aerial Firefighting News

satnews • SatNews Staff

CAL FIRE and Sikorsky sign five-year deal to develop autonomous S-70i Firehawk

Sikorsky and CAL FIRE have launched a five-year collaboration to develop an autonomous-capable S-70i Firehawk, integrating autonomous flight technologies into wildfire suppression to improve operational safety and effectiveness. The programme builds on Sikorsky’s prior autonomous Black Hawk trials and CAL FIRE’s existing S-70i fleet.

2025-09-03T11:05:26.235068-07:00

Vertical Mag

Nagoya City Fire Bureau orders Airbus H160 for firefighting and SAR

2025-07-17T06:11:42.714603-07:00

AeroTime

Manitoba Confirms Purchase of Three Next-Gen DHC-515 Firefighter Aircraft

2025-06-16T05:22:02.724659-07:00

FlightGlobal

Airbus A400M Completes 20,000 L Firefighting Test Campaign in France

2025-06-26T01:47:24.943698-07:00

Aerial Firefighting News Timeline

satnews

CAL FIRE and Sikorsky sign five-year deal to develop autonomous S-70i Firehawk Sikorsky and CAL FIRE have launched a five-year collaboration to develop an autonomous-capable S-70i Firehawk, integrating autonomous flight technologies into wildfire suppression to improve operational safety and effectiveness. The programme builds on Sikorsky’s prior autonomous Black Hawk trials and CAL FIRE’s existing S-70i fleet.

2025-09-03T11:05:26.235068-07:00

CAL FIRE and Sikorsky sign five-year deal to develop autonomous S-70i Firehawk

AerialFire

101st Airborne evaluates Recoil Aerospace Expeditionary Fuel Tank in Kentucky field exercise Bowling Green, Kentucky, Aug. 20, 2025 — Recoil Aerospace’s Expeditionary Fuel Tank (EFT), a carbon-fiber liquid-handling system from a company also known for aerial fire-suppression tanks, was used by personnel from the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne during a field exercise to evaluate the product’s operational performance.

2025-09-02T17:38:07.876107-07:00

101st Airborne evaluates Recoil Aerospace Expeditionary Fuel Tank in Kentucky field exercise

Vertical Mag

OFIL Airborne, Nova Maps partner to add wildfire‑mapping sensors to utility helicopters OFIL Airborne and Nova Maps have partnered to integrate compact wildfire‑mapping sensors into utility helicopters, enabling operators to switch seamlessly between powerline inspections and near‑real‑time thermal mapping without major hardware changes. The integration leverages existing aircraft fit‑outs to add rapid wildfire detection and mapping capability.

2025-08-21T05:49:53.196692-07:00

OFIL Airborne, Nova Maps partner to add wildfire‑mapping sensors to utility helicopters

Simple Flying

Oregon Weighs Uncrewed Helicopters to Augment Aerial Firefighting — Tests, Costs and Regulatory Hurdles Oregon is evaluating uncrewed helicopters to augment aerial firefighting, launching tests to validate autonomous suppression capabilities while weighing costs, airspace integration and regulatory approval. The move aims to bolster rotary-wing capacity and reduce risk to crews, but operational and certification hurdles remain.

2025-08-19T23:37:46.329423-07:00

Oregon Weighs Uncrewed Helicopters to Augment Aerial Firefighting — Tests, Costs and Regulatory Hurdles

en.protothema.gr

De Havilland begins production of Greece’s seven CL-515 water-bombers; CL-415 upgrades and CL-215 maintenance to follow De Havilland Canada has started assembly of the first of seven CL-515 water-bombers ordered by Greece, with upgrades planned for seven CL-415s to restore them to near-new condition and ongoing maintenance support for legacy CL-215s. The program combines new production, remanufacture and MRO.

2025-08-19T20:33:55.938165-07:00

De Havilland begins production of Greece’s seven CL-515 water-bombers; CL-415 upgrades and CL-215 maintenance to follow

coulsonaviation.com

Coulson Aviation USA buys five Citation 550s from Canadian government to expand lead‑plane and air‑attack fleet Coulson Aviation USA has acquired five Citation 550s from the Canadian government, expanding its jet‑powered Lead Plane and Air Attack fleet. The FAR Part 25‑certified aircraft will be fitted with Coulson’s mission‑enhancement upgrades, reinforcing the company’s position as the world’s largest aerial firefighting operator.

2025-08-19T09:24:21.820949-07:00

Coulson Aviation USA buys five Citation 550s from Canadian government to expand lead‑plane and air‑attack fleet

Flying Magazine

Fire Boss Unveils Lighter Floats and Enhanced Maintenance for Next-Gen Air Tanker Coulson Aviation’s Fire Boss amphibious water bomber has been revamped with lighter, composite floats and redesigned attachments, shaving pounds off its airframe to boost payload and endurance. The update also integrates new maintenance features—quick-access panels and modular systems—aimed at reducing servicing time during high-tempo wildfire seasons.

2025-08-07T07:05:26.375761-07:00

Fire Boss Unveils Lighter Floats and Enhanced Maintenance for Next-Gen Air Tanker

Vertical Mag

CAL FIRE ups aerial firefighting firepower with two new Sikorsky S-70i Firehawks California’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection has taken delivery of two Sikorsky S-70i Firehawk helicopters, lifting its rotary-wing firefighting fleet to 16 aircraft. The additions bolster rapid-response capacity ahead of what forecasters expect to be another severe wildfire season.

2025-08-06T05:32:10.213041-07:00

CAL FIRE ups aerial firefighting firepower with two new Sikorsky S-70i Firehawks

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