Lockheed Martin and CAL FIRE Announce Partnership to Enhance Wildfire Response with Autonomous Aircraft.

Lockheed Martin's Sikorsky and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) have announced a five-year initiative to enhance wildfire response capabilities. The collaboration aims to develop and integrate cutting-edge technologies, including autonomy-enabled aircraft, to improve safety and efficacy in emergency response. The effort will also explore the development of an autonomous Sikorsky S-70i FIREHAWK helicopter, a proven aerial firefighting aircraft. The partnership aims to revolutionize the way wildfires are fought, protecting citizens for generations to come.

Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company, and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) have announced a five-year initiative aimed at bolstering wildfire suppression capabilities and exploring autonomous aerial firefighting technologies. The collaboration, which began on September 3, 2025, focuses on developing and integrating advanced technologies to enhance the safety and efficacy of CAL FIRE operations.

The initiative will leverage Sikorsky's MATRIX™ autonomy technology, which has been demonstrated in exercises with Sikorsky's Black Hawk helicopter in Southern California. This technology aims to reduce pilot workload, improve situational awareness, and enable complex missions in dangerous conditions, day or night. The collaboration will also explore the development of an autonomous Sikorsky S-70i FIREHAWK helicopter, a proven and versatile aerial firefighting aircraft that has been a key component of CAL FIRE's wildfire response for over 25 years.

Steve Robinson, Assistant Deputy Director of Aviation and Mobile Equipment at CAL FIRE, expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating, "CAL FIRE is excited to collaborate with Sikorsky and determine how their advanced technologies could benefit our Helicopter and Uncrewed Aerial System Programs."

Rich Benton, Sikorsky vice president and general manager, added, "The development of autonomous wildfire suppression capabilities will be a game-changer in our efforts to protect communities from the growing threat of wildfires. 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."

This initiative is part of Lockheed Martin's broader focus on accelerating the development and integration of digital technology to support faster decision-making capabilities for wildfire management, known as 21st Century Firefighting. The partnership aims to revolutionize the way wildfires are fought, protecting citizens for generations to come.

References:
[1] https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2025-09-03-Sikorsky-and-CAL-FIRE-Join-Forces-to-Enhance-Autonomous-Aerial-Firefighting-Technologies