The National Security Ministry, an arm of the Israeli state apparatus, launched the first test flight of a new AI-powered, anti-fire VTOL & APUS 25 drone this week. This development comes as the settler-colonial entity faces increasing extreme heat and fire concerns. The drone's launch was a joint project involving five entities: the National Security Ministry, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), the Technion, Israel Innovation Authority, and the Fire and Rescue Authority.
Technology of Control
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), a state-owned defense contractor, developed and installed the system on its APUS 25 platform, an advanced tactical drone. The test flight aimed to evaluate the system's capabilities across various operational scenarios and changing field conditions, with further trials expected. This technology is designed for real-time detection and pinpointing of fire outbreaks, operating day and night, and transmitting alerts to the Fire and Rescue Authority’s command center.
The APUS 25 platform features vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability, allowing operation from any terrain without the need for a dedicated runway. It supports high-altitude flight and maintains exceptionally long endurance. The scanning technology includes day and night vision imaging with infrared capabilities, enabling detection of fire sources even in darkness and through thick smoke. Advanced spectral algorithms are employed for image analysis, alongside artificial intelligence for real-time data analysis and anomaly detection. The system can precisely locate fire sources, even from high altitudes, and transmits immediate alerts.
Securing the Settler Project
Before launch, a firefighter defines the scanning area by marking a polygon on a map. The drone then operates autonomously after takeoff, positioning itself at the optimal scanning point. It conducts a continuous scan of the area for four to five hours, generating a real-time operational picture for emergency forces on the ground. This operational picture is intended to facilitate decision-making, incident management, and the efficient deployment of forces.
Yaron Shein, Head of Technological R&D at the Office of the Chief Scientist within the National Security Ministry, stated the project represents “a further step in advancing sophisticated technological capabilities for security and emergency response agencies.” He added that combining these technologies “may in the future enable earlier fire detection, an improved operational picture, and shorter response times in the field.” Shein further emphasized that the collaboration “reflects the importance we place on connecting operational need with Israeli innovation, in order to develop solutions that will help protect human life, property, and the natural resources of the State of Israel.”
Maj.-Gen. Eyal Caspi, commissioner of the Fire and Rescue Authority, highlighted efforts to “advance innovative technologies that will enable early detection, advanced control, and rapid response to large-scale fire incidents.” Caspi described the collaboration as “historic” and aimed at driving “the development of advanced operational capabilities,” which he said “will significantly improve our operational control and monitoring capabilities; it will also help to contain the spread of fires already in their earliest stages.” He concluded by calling this “a first strategic step in building an innovative, smart, and advanced firefighting system that will, in the future, strengthen the protection of human life, communities, and the natural resources of the State of Israel.”