Daijiworld Media Network - Seoul
Seoul, Oct 2: Korean Air Lines Co. has announced a collaboration with U.S. defence technology firm Anduril Industries Inc. to develop an AI-powered wildfire response system using drones, according to a report by Pulse, the English service of Maeil Business Newspaper Korea.
The initiative aims to enhance conventional wildfire response methods, which have traditionally relied on human surveillance and manual deployment. By integrating artificial intelligence, the system will continuously monitor wildfire risks and automatically dispatch drones upon detecting a fire.
Under the partnership, Korean Air and Anduril will jointly develop an integrated solution for large-scale wildfire prevention and response, building on a previous technology agreement from August for cooperation in the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) sector in Korea and the Asia-Pacific region. The collaboration now extends into global social responsibility initiatives.
The system will combine Korean Air’s drone expertise with Anduril’s AI-driven command-and-control platform, Lattice. It operates by analyzing real-time data collected from aerial, ground, and satellite sensors to detect early signs of wildfires. Once a fire is confirmed, the platform alerts authorities and autonomously evaluates the fire’s scale and status, directing Korean Air drones for rapid response, including dropping fire suppressants for initial containment.
If commercialized, the AI-driven system could redefine wildfire response, as current detection and initial intervention can take tens of minutes to several hours, often allowing fires to grow uncontrollably. With this technology, fires can be contained quickly, reducing potential damage.
A Korean Air official noted that the company has long sought ways to leverage its UAV development and operational capabilities to tackle global challenges. The partnership with Anduril, they added, strengthens manpower-based response systems and helps prevent large-scale wildfires through rapid, technology-driven intervention.