Boeing‘s Insitu subsidiary has received a contract to deploy the ScanEagle unmanned aerial system to aid the Interior Department in fire suppression efforts.
Insitu said Wednesday it will also support DOI’s manned aerial operations that include search and rescue, emergency management and other missions across 48 U.S. states and Alaska.
ScanEagle is designed with infrared and electro-optical cameras, sensors and a TK-5 Firewatch payload built to generate tactical maps.
The UAS works to operate in smoky and dark environments that present hazardous flying conditions for manned aircraft pilots.
Insitu deployed the system last year to help incident commanders obtain situational awareness data from aerial sensors and respond to wildfires that occurred in Oregon and northern California.