Wildfire.

Autonomous detection at ignition, suppression without exposure, and heavy lift for the fire line.

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Wildfire operations
The problem

The window to stop a fire is measured in minutes.

Wildfires are growing larger, faster, and closer to communities. Detection today relies on lookouts, satellite passes, and 911 calls, while suppression relies on crews and manned aircraft that cannot fly at night, in smoke, or into terrain that puts lives at risk.

The result is that fires which could have been contained at a quarter acre become megafires. The mission demands a system that detects ignition early, responds immediately, and operates where and when humans cannot.

What we provide
01

Rapid Aerial Attack

Autonomous heavy-lift response puts suppression payload on an ignition in the critical early window, day or night, in smoke, without risking a pilot.

Early windowNight and smokeNo pilot exposure
02

Detection and Mapping

Aerial surveillance spots ignitions, maps fire perimeters in real time, and tracks spread to inform evacuation and resource decisions.

Ignition detectionLive perimeterSpread tracking
03

Fire Line Logistics

Heavy-lift delivery of hose, pumps, fuel, water, and equipment to crews in terrain that would take hours to reach on foot.

Hose and pumpsFuel and waterSteep terrain
04

Coordinated Response

xNav plans and manages multi-aircraft fire operations, so a small team can command a large response.

Multi-aircraftOne small teamAutonomous tasking
Configurations

Three roles: detection, suppression, resupply.

Several Powerus platforms fly this mission on one set of autonomy software and one ground control. Crews move between detection sorties, payload drops, and cargo runs in minutes.

Patrol

Detection

Optimized for early warning and continuous monitoring through high-risk season. Extended endurance, thermal and IR package for hotspot identification, and real-time alerting to ground command.

5+ hr cycles
Attack

Suppression

Configured for rapid-response payload delivery. Up to 1,000 lb of water or retardant, precision GPS-guided drop, multiple sortie turnaround under 10 minutes, and full night and smoke operation.

1,000 lb / sortie
Logistics

Fire Line Resupply

Sling or bay loads move hose, pumps, fuel, water, and hand tools to crews in steep or inaccessible terrain, and reposition equipment between divisions.

Sling or bay load
Use cases
01

Initial Attack

First response onto new ignitions before they establish.

02

Night Suppression

Payload delivery in darkness and low visibility.

03

Perimeter Mapping

Live boundary and spread prediction for incident command.

04

Prescribed Burn

Monitoring and containment support during planned burns.

05

Crew Resupply

Hose, pumps, fuel, and water into steep or inaccessible terrain.

06

WUI Protection

Targeted retardant around structures in the wildland-urban interface.

07

Utility Corridors

Patrol of transmission lines, substations, and rights-of-way.

08

Post-Fire Monitoring

Thermal scanning for rekindling hotspots after primary suppression.

09

Evacuation Support

Situational awareness and logistics for civilian evacuation.

Detection and suppression, day and night.

Powerus fields one autonomous architecture across six missions, shared platforms, shared ground control, a single U.S. supply chain.

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