Türkiye’s high-tech drones detect wildfires from 215 kilometres away Photo

As Türkiye continues its relentless battle against recent forest fires, drones operated by the General Directorate of Forestry (OGM) are playing a crucial role in early fire detection.

Equipped with domestically produced thermal cameras, these drones can identify the smallest signs of fire from distances of up to 215 kilometres, Caliber.Az reports via Turkish media.

Rising temperatures have contributed to an increase in forest fires in recent weeks, prompting intensified efforts across the country.

The OGM utilises a wide range of tools and technologies in its firefighting operations, including planes, helicopters, drones, watchtowers, cameras, and fire trucks—all regularly updated and expanded according to needs.

This year, 25,000 personnel have been deployed to combat fires, supported by an aerial fleet comprising 27 planes, 105 helicopters, and 14 drones. These air assets draw water from open sources as well as nearly 4,800 fire reservoirs and ponds built nationwide, enabling rapid response to blazes.

Drones are particularly valuable for detecting fires at their earliest stages, thanks to cutting-edge thermal cameras that can monitor subtle heat changes over vast distances. The “ASELFLIR-500” cameras, developed locally by defence company ASELSAN, were introduced on drones this year and have already proven instrumental in recent fire detections.

Covering an area of approximately 3.5 million hectares in real time, the drones’ extended range and high-resolution sensors enable them to spot even the smallest flames from 215 kilometres away.

These advanced cameras are also used on planes and helicopters, serving as high-performance electro-optical reconnaissance, surveillance, and targeting systems.

The ASELFLIR-500 incorporates 3-5 micron high-resolution infrared and daytime vision SWIR cameras, laser target designation, and distance measurement units, as well as precision tracking features.

Designed to operate reliably at high altitudes and extremely low temperatures, the system can synchronise target tracking to accurately determine the position, direction, and speed of moving objects.

With such cutting-edge technology, Türkiye’s aerial firefighting capabilities continue to strengthen in the face of increasingly frequent and severe forest fires.

By Aghakazim Guliyev