Department of Interior Awards Contract for Emergency UAS Firefighting Support

By Mike Ball / 07 Jun 2018
Follow UST

Bridger Aerospace UAS

Bridger Aerospace has announced that it has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Department of Interior (“DOI”) to supply unmanned service support for wild land fire management on a “call when needed” basis. The five-year IDIQ contract, which is the first of its kind awarded by DOI, will allow DOI to deploy contractor-operated and maintained small unmanned air systems (UAS) that are ready when needed to support wildland fire operations, search and rescue, emergency management and other resource missions in the Continental United States and Alaska.

In connection with the execution of the DOI contract, Bridger’s Founder and President Tim Sheehy stated, “We are humbled and proud to be awarded a spot on DOI’s pioneering UAS firefighting contract. We continue to focus on innovative and effective methods to improve the safety of aerial firefighting operations, and we look forward to continuing to serve communities that are threatened by wildfire danger.”

To satisfy its obligations under the awarded contract, Bridger will be partnering with Silent Falcon UAS Technologies, one of a limited number of fixed wing UAS providers that has been recognized as satisfying DOI operational status requirements. James McBurney, President at Silent Falcon, stated, “We are extremely fortunate to partner with Bridger in this first of its kind UAS services contract, and we are excited to deploy the technology embedded in the Silent Falcon, the only solar electric, long range, long endurance UAS.”

Posted by Mike Ball Mike Ball is our resident technical editor here at Unmanned Systems Technology. Combining his passion for teaching, advanced engineering and all things unmanned, Mike keeps a watchful eye over everything related to the unmanned technical sector. With over 10 years’ experience in the unmanned field and a degree in engineering, Mike’s been heading up our technical team here for the last 8 years. Connect & Contact