Advancing Wildfire Response: Texas A&M's Pilotless Blackhawks to Combat Fires

To explore the use of pilotless Blackhawk helicopters to combat wildfires, the Texas Legislature recently appropriated $59.8 million for the George H.W. Bush Combat Development Complex (BCDC) within the Texas A&M University System. The grant is meant to support DARPA’s Aircrew Labor In-cockpit Automation System (ALIAS) and find ways to battle wildfires throughout the state with pilotless Blackhawk helicopters.

In response to the financing, Robert Albritton, chairman of the Texas A&M System’s Board of Regents, said, “The Texas A&M System always steps up. We have the know-how. We have the drive. And we are ready to do our part for the state.”

Government financing will support research at BCDC as well as at Texas A&M University’s Corpus Christi’s Autonomy Research Institute, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, the Texas A&M Forest Service, and the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station.

Texas A&M System Chancellor Glenn Hegar noted, “The Texas A&M System is ready to lead this initiative due to our extensive technical and firefighting expertise across multiple universities and state agencies. This is the latest example of how the Texas A&M System provides valuable services to the state.”

The funding will support the acquisition and autonomous configuration of up to four UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters (see image above), as well as the development of facilities, tools, and equipment necessary for research, testing, and integration of firefighting capabilities over the next two years.