By Ian Werther in News — 13 Mar 2026

South Korea Deepens Civilian-Military Cooperation on Wildfire Drones and Air Assets

The Korea Forest Service’s National Aviation Headquarters hosted a visit by the commander of the Army’s 36th Infantry Division and other senior officials on the 13th to review wildfire response systems and discuss cooperation on firefighting and unmanned aerial vehicle operations.

During the visit, the division commander was guided through firefighting helicopters and tethered-landing facilities, while officials explained the aviation-based wildfire suppression system and current helicopter operations.

Officials also introduced the main wildfire suppression equipment used in the field and shared how the gear is operated and deployed in real-world responses, outlining the on-site response framework.

USAG Rheinland-Pfalz Department of Emergency Services firefighters and their counterparts from the Kaiserslautern Fire Department met on Rhine Ordnance Barracks, Apr. 17 to collaborate and explore the application of emerging drone technology in emergency response. The Kaiserslautern unit showcased two of their drones, providing insights into their current operational use and outlining future plans for integrating drones into recovery operations. This knowledge exchange gave the units a deeper understanding of drone capabilities and promoted interagency cooperation, enhancing emergency response preparedness and coordination between the two firefighting teams. In close partnership with industry, the Army innovates, experiments and invests in emerging technologies to ensure the Army can deliver trained, cohesive and lethal teams to meet future challenges in complex operational environments. — Representative image for context; not directly related to the specific event in this article. License: Public domain. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

The talks emphasized the importance of a coordinated response system between civilian forestry authorities and the military, with discussions aimed at strengthening joint operations.

A particular focus was placed on drones, with both agencies agreeing to deepen cooperation and provide ongoing support in the drone sector as unmanned aircraft become more integral to wildfire response.

Members of Guatemala's national disaster-response coordination agency, known as CONRED, and the humanitarian assistance brigade of the Guatemalan army trouble-shoot a drone controller May 16, 2025, at Mariscal Zavala military base during training held as part of CENTAM Guardian 2025. . The training, which also involved members of humanitarian assistance units from the armies of Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, as well as a military officer from the Dominican Republic, was sponsored by the public-private cooperation branch of U.S. Southern Command's exercise and coalition affairs directorate and delivered by the nonprofit Airborne International Response Team with support from Costa Rica’s national fire department. CENTAM Guardian enhances the capacity of participating nations to respond effectively to natural disasters and humanitarian crises through coordinated humanitarian-assistance and disaster-relief operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Cmdr. Michael Cody) — Representative image for context; not directly related to the specific event in this article. License: Public domain. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Kim Man-ju, head of the National Forestry Aviation Headquarters, said that during the period of heightened large-fire activity, cooperation with the military will help strengthen wildfire response capabilities.

For international audiences, the exchange illustrates how a civilian agency and the armed forces can pool air assets, equipment, and technology to address large-scale wildfires. It also highlights the growing role of drones in emergency response and the potential benefits of civil-military collaboration for disaster management in other countries, including the United States, where wildfire seasons have become a critical policy and security issue.

Context for non-Korean readers: the Korea Forest Service operates the Forestry Aviation system to support firefighting, search and rescue, and related missions. The Army’s 36th Infantry Division is a unit within the Republic of Korea Army. The term “large-fire special measures period” refers to a seasonal mobilization of additional resources to combat major wildfires.

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