Korean Air announced that it has partnered with US defense technology company Anduril to explore the joint development of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operating system to combat large-scale wildfire.
The project builds on a Teaming Agreement established by the two companies in August 2025 for unmanned systems partnerships in Korea and the Asia-Pacific region.
The partnership will combine Korean Air’s drone technology and operational skills with Anduril’s wildfire response platform. The goal is that by combining the two company’s expertise, they will create a comprehensive solution designed to swiftly detect and extinguish wildfires where they start.
The partnership’s solution will coordinate the entire response workflow with reduced human input. Driven by Anduril’s Lattice software and utilizing equipment such as the Fury autonomous vehicle, the platform integrates monitoring data from sensors positioned in the air, on land, and in orbit into one comprehensive operational picture.
According to Korean Air, once a fire is identified, operators are immediately notified and can direct Anduril autonomous aerial vehicles (AAVs) and Korean Air UAVs to independently evaluate fire characteristics before mobilizing additional quick-response drones or piloted airtankers for containment.
South Korea typically sees 500 to 900 wildfires per year, with incidents being most common in spring, during the months of March and May.
“Wildfires are a global crisis, but the way we fight them is antiquated,” said Palmer Luckey, Founder of Anduril Industries.
“By integrating Korean Air’s UAVs into Anduril’s existing end-to-end wildfire response platform, we will dramatically accelerate wildfire response by making it more automated, comprehensive, and scalable, ultimately saving countless lives and billions in property damage,” Luckey added.
“This partnership applies Korean Air’s core unmanned systems expertise to a critical global challenge,” said a Korean Air spokesperson. “Our goal is to provide first responders with a technological advantage to save lives and property from wildfires.”
