JOUAV demonstrates integrated wildfire drone system in China

JOUAV has demonstrated an uncrewed aerial system for forest fire detection, reconnaissance, and suppression during an emergency response exercise in Shanxi Province, northern China.

The demonstration took place on 28 September at the 2026 Shanxi Provincial Forest and Grassland Fire Prevention and Emergency Response Skills Competition and Northern Cooperation Zone Joint Exercise in Shuozhou.

The system combines elevated video surveillance, autonomous vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing patrols, and multirotor firefighting drones to support operations in remote areas where ground access is difficult.

JOUAV’s JOS-C700 VTOL drone hangar system supports autonomous patrols with a flight endurance of more than 120 minutes and a patrol radius of up to 50km under line-of-sight conditions. Equipped with visible-light and thermal imaging cameras, the aircraft can collect imagery to help identify smoke, flames, and abnormal heat sources. Artificial intelligence (AI)-based image analysis supports the assessment of potential fire activity.

For suppression, the JOS-P1000 multirotor drone hangar system has a maximum payload capacity of 100kg. In the specified configuration, it can carry four 20kg firefighting bombs. JOUAV states that the system can achieve an effective suppression area of more than 100m² per mission, although results depend on fire conditions, payload configuration, and operating environment.

The integrated approach links initial hazard detection with aerial assessment and targeted intervention, providing forestry authorities and emergency responders with an additional tool for managing incidents in challenging terrain.

The system is intended to complement ground crews and other emergency resources, rather than replace conventional firefighting operations. The demonstration highlights the potential role of uncrewed aircraft in improving situational awareness and supporting early intervention during forest fire incidents.

In Romania, Proon-Tech and ELSA Industry recently formed a strategic partnership to develop and test UAV-based capabilities for wildfire mitigation and emergency response.