Rotorcraft
Autonomy Is Key for Fast Aerial Firefighting Response
Rain Industries is developing autonomous capabilities for aerial firefighting helicopters.
Rain Industries has unveiled a remotely piloted and unmanned MK2 firefighting rotorcraft to respond to fires. Adapted from the Mosquito ultralight helicopter kit, multiple MK2s could be flown to an advancing fire front to help prevent it from spreading.
Rain Industries has unveiled a remotely piloted and unmanned MK2 firefighting rotorcraft to respond to fires. Adapted from the Mosquito ultralight helicopter kit, multiple MK2s could be flown to an advancing fire front to help prevent it from spreading.

Rain Industries recently demonstrated the ability to remotely command a Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk via satellite link from its California command center to the aircraft, located in Tennessee. With safety pilots aboard, the Black Hawk self-dispatched and flew to a hypothetical destination as part of a fire-response demonstration.

“This is a critical first proof-of-concept to illustrate how our software will allow uncrewed aircraft to support firefighting missions,” said Ephraim Nowak, Rain’s chief engineer. The demonstration flight that occured in April is one of several projects with customer fire agencies scheduled in 2023, Rain said.

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