IAI and Fire Free Forests Partner to Launch Next-Gen Aerial Wildfire Combat Platform
Strategic agreement to develop high-capacity firefighting aircraft and service model aims to address rising global wildfire threats
Illustration: IAI website
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Fire Free Forests (3F) have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to co-develop an advanced airborne firefighting platform aimed at tackling the growing global threat of wildfires. The platform will be based on the 767BDSF, a specially adapted version of IAI’s BEDEK Special Freighter, and is designed to deliver large-scale, precision fire suppression from the air.
The new aircraft, dubbed the 767FF Fire-Fighter, will carry approximately 40 tons of fire-retardant material and feature advanced sensors for real-time fire detection and monitoring. A centralized command-and-control system will coordinate both airborne and ground-based firefighting efforts.
IAI will lead the engineering and system integration, while 3F will manage the commercial strategy, including a subscription-based service targeting governments, reinsurers, and climate resilience initiatives. The rollout plan includes establishing operational hubs in high-risk regions such as the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Southern Europe.
“As wildfires grow in frequency and intensity due to climate change, the need for innovative, large-scale solutions has never been more urgent,” said Boaz Levy, President and CEO of IAI. “We are proud to apply our advanced engineering and aircraft conversion capabilities to help protect lives around the world and look forward to collaborating with 3F on this.”
Marc Berdugo, Founding Partner at 3F, added, “Together with IAI, we aim to deliver a vital public-good solution that protects lives, forests, and biodiversity.”