IAI Tests AI-Powered Drone System for Early Wildfire Detection
The APUS 25-based system combines artificial intelligence, infrared sensors and autonomous capabilities to identify fires within minutes of ignition
Photo: IAI website
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has completed the first flight test of an advanced AI-powered drone system designed to detect and locate wildfires within minutes of ignition, providing emergency responders with critical early warnings before fires can develop into large-scale events.
The system, developed by IAI in collaboration with the Israel Fire and Rescue Authority, the Technion, the Israel Innovation Authority and additional partners, integrates advanced artificial intelligence capabilities onto IAI’s APUS 25 tactical vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) unmanned aircraft.
The system combines day and night cameras with infrared sensors to detect fire hotspots even in darkness and through dense smoke. AI-based image-processing algorithms analyze data in real time, identify anomalies, locate potential fires with meter-level accuracy and transmit alerts directly to the Fire and Rescue Authority’s command-and-control center.
Designed for persistent surveillance missions, the APUS 25 can remain airborne for four to five hours while monitoring hundreds of square kilometers. The platform can operate without a runway and autonomously scan designated areas, providing firefighters with a real-time operational picture to support faster decision-making and more efficient deployment of resources.
“This unique project demonstrates our ability to leverage our expertise in aviation, artificial intelligence and autonomous systems to address an issue of both national and global importance,” said Moshe Levy, Executive Vice President and General Manager of IAI’s Military Aircraft Group. “Collaborations of this kind enable us to transform advanced technology into operational capabilities that deliver real value in the field.”
The project comes as climate change and extreme weather events contribute to a growing wildfire threat worldwide. Lt. Gen. Eyal Caspi, Commissioner of the Israel Fire and Rescue Authority, said the development of advanced technologies is becoming increasingly important for emergency organizations.
“We are investing in advanced technologies that will enable earlier detection, enhanced command and control, and faster responses to large-scale wildfire events,” Caspi said.
Researchers from the Technion contributed AI and algorithmic expertise to the project. “The Fire Detection system demonstrates how scientific excellence can be translated into a practical solution that helps save lives and reduce damage,” said Prof. Asaf Schuster of the Henry and Marilyn Taub Faculty of Computer Science.
Following the successful flight test, the system will undergo additional trials under varying terrain, weather and operational conditions as the partners evaluate its capabilities for future deployment.
Leading international UAS/drone event, UVID DroneTech 2026, returns to Israel this November for its 14th edition, bringing together global stakeholders for knowledge sharing and collaboration. For information and registration