NASA contracts American Aerospace for uncrewed wildfire-monitoring flights

Questions and answers: 

• Who is providing uncrewed aircraft services for NASA wildfire monitoring?
  NASA awarded American Aerospace Technologies Inc. (AATI) a sole-source contract to operate long-duration uncrewed aircraft for wildfire data collection in support of its FireSense Project.
• What aircraft will be used in NASA’s wildfire data flights?
  AATI will use its AiRanger uncrewed aircraft or an equivalent platform, modified to carry NASA sensors for collecting imagery and atmospheric data over active wildland fires.
• When will the NASA wildfire monitoring flights take place?
  The flights are scheduled for up to 96 hours within a 14-day period between February and April 2026. They will take place at locations chosen based on fire conditions and forecast data.

HAMPTON, Va. - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has awarded a sole-source contract to American Aerospace Technologies Inc. (AATI) in Conshohocken, Pa., to provide high-altitude, long-endurance uncrewed aircraft services for monitoring wildfires across the continental United States.

Under the agreement, AATI will operate its AiRanger aircraft, or a comparable uncrewed platform, to collect critical atmospheric and remote sensing data over active wildland fires. The flights are scheduled for up to 96 hours over a 14-day period between February and April 2026. The missions support NASA's Earth Science Division and its FireSense Project, which aims to improve wildfire detection, monitoring, and response through advanced aerial surveillance technologies.

NASA's Shared Services Center determined that AATI was uniquely capable of meeting the contract's requirements, citing the company's ability to deliver long-duration UAS services at high altitude with integrated detect-and-avoid capabilities. All missions will be conducted under NASA's aviation standards and oversight protocols, including engineering reviews, airworthiness assessments, and mission readiness evaluations.

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AiRanger

The AiRanger is a fixed-wing UAS designed for beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations. With a wingspan of 16 feet and a flight endurance of more than 20 hours, the aircraft can carry payloads exceeding 65 pounds and operate at altitudes up to 12,000 feet. It is equipped with autonomous flight controls, satellite communications, and safety systems for national airspace integration. The platform has been reviewed under NASA's Commercial Aviation Services process and is tailored for civil missions such as disaster response, environmental monitoring, and infrastructure inspection.

As part of the contract, AATI will modify the aircraft to integrate a suite of NASA-provided sensors, including a FLIR midwave infrared camera, a FLIR longwave infrared camera, and a RedEdge multispectral camera, all installed via nadir-mounted ports. The company will also supply custom instrument racks, assist with payload integration, and provide collected flight data, including GPS logs. NASA expects this configuration to yield high-resolution imagery and data on aerosols, greenhouse gases, and reactive trace gases during fire events.

NASA officials say the initiative is part of a broader push to integrate commercial uncrewed systems into the agency's Earth observation efforts, with the goal of enabling faster, safer, and more cost-effective responses to climate-related disasters such as wildfires.