Operation Fire Swarm 2, a landmark demonstration of next-generation aerial firefighting technology, has successfully showcased the future of coordinated, autonomous wildfire response. Conducted at the Hillwood Flight Test Center near the Texas Motor Speedway, the exercise brought together manned and unmanned aircraft in a fully integrated, live operational environment.

The demonstration marked the first-ever autonomous, multi-aircraft, multi-operator flight using vehicle-to-vehicle communications in real time, setting a new benchmark in aerial mission coordination.

Key elements of the exercise included: Autonomous Drone Deployment with Firefighting drones executing water drops in a simulated wildfire environment. Manned and unmanned teaming with helicopters, operating alongside unmanned assets and sharing mission data through a common digital network.

BlueSkies Operational Air Mobility System provided real time airspace deconfliction, mission scheduling, communications and incident command support. Ground-based controllers directed operations with unprecedented situational awareness, ensuring seamless coordination across all assets.

Operation Fire Swarm 2 was organized by Unmanned Experts, with participation from industry partners, public agencies and academic collaborators. Together, the team demonstrated how autonomous systems can strengthen wildfire suppression efforts, reduce risks for human pilots, and increase mission effectiveness in crisis environments.

“We have shown what’s possible when manned and unmanned systems work together to combat one of the most pressing challenges of our time,” said a program spokesperson. “Operation Fire Swarm 2 proves that autonomy, coordination, and technology can transform aerial firefighting.” Said Keven Gambold, CEO and co-founder of Unmanned Experts.