Californian firefighters battling the deadliest fires in their state's history have been supported in their efforts by an MQ-9 Remotely Piloted Aircraft (also known as Reaper or Predator B) providing valuable situational awareness via it's advanced sensor suite.
The California Air National Guard’s 163rd Attack Wing operating out of March Air Reserve Base is using MQ-9 RPAs with full-motion video (optical and infra-red) and ground imaging Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) capability, in support of California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) firefighting efforts in the north of the state.
Brigadier General Dana A. Hessheimer said the wing was operating two missions under approval from the Secretary of Defense and the Federal Aviation Administration.
“The two missions are to help fire crews assess fire perimeters and to identify structures that have been lost. Through the efforts of our response team, 77,000 acres have been mapped and more than 1,300 structures have been identified.”
The intelligence and reconnaissance sensor suite on the MQ-9 includes the Lynx multi-mode radar and Electro-Optical/Infra-Red (EO/IR) high-definition camera. According to MQ-9 manufacturer General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc (GA-ASI), the sensors have helped firefighters with both the strategic planning and resource placement essential for efforts to contain the fire.
GA-ASI is also working with the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department and CAL FIRE to facilitate integration of real-time data into fire-fighting operations. A recent video of a MQ-9 operating out of March can be viewed here.