Firefighting drone with bucket: water on the hotspot where vehicles cannot reach
Complete wildfire firefighting system: DJI FlyCart 100 cargo drone, bucket for collecting and releasing water, ground refilling kit, command and control, ENAC (Italy) operational authorisation and training. Designed by DroneBase for wildfire crews, Civil Protection and forestry agencies.
- Complete, compatible system, from the drone to the motor pump
- Configured, tested and supported by DroneBase
- ENAC operational authorisation and training included
When a standard drone is not enough
Getting water onto a hotspot takes more than a drone: it takes a complete wildfire operating chain, from the water point to the release, that can handle the load, the distances and the rules for flying above 25 kg.
Operational limits
Inspection drones do not carry water. Without a cargo carrier and a dedicated bucket, the operation stays on the ground.
Complex integration
Winch, bucket, power supply, remote controllers and water lines must work as a single system, not as separate parts.
Regulatory constraints
Above 25 kg you need the Specific category, a flight termination system and an operational authorisation: a process that slows entry into service.
Support
In an emergency you need a technical partner with spare parts and service, not a component reseller.
Drone firefighting system: from the water source to the release on the hotspot
Five building blocks designed to work together, with the command post seeing what the drone sees.
Firefighting bucket
The heart of the system: filling on the ground or in flight, metered electric release and monitored water level.
Field water point
7,000 L tank, motor pump, suction and delivery lines, backpacks for carrying on foot.
Command and video
Two remote controllers, multi-terminal bucket control and field display for the command post.
DroneBase
Integration, testing, ENAC operational authorisation, training and after-sales support.
Firefighting bucket for drones: water collection and release under control
Self-supporting structure that stands upright on the ground during filling, waterproof high-torque electric release and ultrasonic level sensor that measures the volume on board at every cycle.
Metered release
Release commanded by the operator, with the remaining volume monitored in real time.
Dual refilling
Filling on the ground with a hose or direct pick-up in flight from suitable water bodies.
Emergency release
In case of entanglement or malfunction the bucket is jettisoned to protect the carrier.
Multi-terminal control
Drone remote controller, dedicated remote controller or buttons on the bucket.
What you can do with the wildfire firefighting drone
Attack
Deliver water onto the hotspot in the initial phase, even on ridges and slopes with no road access.
Mop up
Extinguish residual hotspots and flare-ups after the front has passed, with targeted, repeated releases.
Refill
Set up a 7,000 L water point where it is needed, fed from open water, hydrants or water tankers.
Transport
With the bucket released, the winch carries equipment and materials to crews at altitude.
Operate in low light
Signal lights on the bucket, on-board lighting and an optional searchlight keep the load visible.
Coordinate
The drone's video reaches the command post on a large screen, with no cables and no network.
How the operation changes
Traditional approach
- Water carried on foot or through long hose lines
- Access to the hotspot on foot, when possible
- Crews exposed on slopes, in smoke and on the active front
- Water reserve at altitude set up with vehicles
- Coordination relying on radio communications
- Heavy aerial assets available only on request
With the DroneBase system
- 80 L bucket lifted by the winch
- Aerial release on the point chosen by the operator
- Personnel at the refilling point, not on the front
- 7,000 L tank inflated in about 2 minutes
- Live drone video at the command post
- Repeatable cycles, with batteries in rotation
From configuration to mission in three steps
We define the application
We analyse the operating area, water availability, staffing and intervention scenarios.
We configure the system
We integrate drone, bucket, ground kit and control; we test the load and the emergency procedures.
You are operational
Delivery, ENAC operational authorisation, 8 hours of training and dedicated technical support.
Integration and the authorisation process are not your concern.
You are not buying a drone. You receive a complete operational capability.
Every item in the supply serves to make the full chain work: lift, fill, release, refill and go again.
Aerial segment
DJI FlyCart 100 cargo drone
85 kg payload, winch with 0–30 m cable, radar, LiDAR, IP55.
80 L firefighting bucket
6 kg empty, level sensor, metered release, emergency jettison.
Dual lift system
Dual-battery lifting system for attaching the bucket to the carrier.
Flight batteries
Set for continuous rotation of release cycles.
DB2160 air cooler
Cools the batteries between one cycle and the next.
RC Plus 2 remote controllers
Dual-operator mode: one pilots, one controls the bucket.
FC100 parachute kit
Ballistic protection for the carrier, a requirement for flight above 25 kg.
Flight termination system (FTS)
MOC-2511 certified, independent encrypted radio channel.
DJI D14000iE 14 kW inverter generator
Fast charging in the field, independent of the mains grid.
Integration and commissioning
Testing, ENAC authorisation (SORA/PDRA), 8 hours of training, service and spare parts.
Wildfire ground kit
7,000 L inflatable tank
Self-supporting field water reserve, fed from open water, a hydrant or a water tanker.
- Capacity 7,000 L · Ø 3 m × h 1 m
- 2,600 g/m² PVC, double-layer base
- Inflates in about 2 min with a 1,200 W pump
- 8 stainless steel perimeter rings, BSP valves on the base
- 43 kg · 85 × 60 × 50 cm when packed · repair kit included
Motor pump
Portable motor pump unit for filling the tank from the source and the bucket on the ground.
- Combustion engine with recoil start
- 2″ NPSH suction, delivery for 25 mm hose
- Frame with base plate for use on rough ground
- Model to be defined: the accessories supplied are compatible with the BP4, BH4-18 and BH4-23 series
12 L fuel tank
External tank that extends the motor pump's running time on long shifts.
- 12 L capacity, polyethylene body with handle
- Cap with quick coupling and vent for the fuel line
- Compatible with BP4, BH4-18 and BH4-23 motor pumps
- Avoids topping up the on-board tank during filling
Complete fuel line
Ready-to-use line between the external tank and the motor pump, with primer bulb.
- Fuel hose with manual air-bleed primer bulb
- Quick couplings at both ends
- Compatible with BP4, BH4-18 and BH4-23 motor pumps
- Tool-free fitting and removal
Manual priming pump
Fills the pump body and the suction line for priming, with no power supply.
- Piston pump with metal body and lever
- Connecting hose and fitting to the motor pump
- Useful when the source is below pump level
- Works even with the engine off
Foot valve with strainer
End of the suction line: filters the water and prevents the pump from losing prime.
- Perforated steel strainer basket
- Non-return valve: the water column stays in the line
- Threaded connection for 2″ suction hose
- Keeps leaves, sand and debris out of the line
2″ NPSH suction hose
Connects the source or the tank to the motor pump, withstanding suction vacuum.
- 2″ diameter with NPSH coupling
- Reinforced wall with anti-crush spiral
- Flexible even at low temperatures
- Paired with the foot valve with strainer
20 m × 25 mm fire hose
Delivery line from the motor pump to the bucket, light and quick to lay out.
- Length 20 m · diameter 25 mm
- Three adhesive-free layers: high-tenacity yarn and synthetic rubber
- Burst pressure ≥ 12,000 kPa
- Abrasion- and heat-resistant, rolls up flat
Motor pump repair kit
Set of spare parts and tools to put the motor pump back into service without returning to the workshop.
- Spare components for the hydraulic unit
- Dedicated tools for disassembly and reassembly
- Designed for field intervention
- Compatible with the motor pumps supplied
Hose carrier backpack
Carries lines and accessories to the water point, even where vehicles cannot reach.
- Aluminium frame, padded shoulders, back and belt
- Up to 4 × 25 m hoses, deployable from the front
- Removable bag: the frame also carries tanks or motor pumps
- 3 kg without bag · 62 × 36.5 × 24 cm · max load 25 kg
Recommended accessories (optional)
14″ 1,500-nit field display
Brings the drone's image to the command post on a large screen that is readable in full sunlight, with no cables. With reverse control the operations manager can act on the flight interface directly from the display.
- 14″ screen, 2560 × 1600 px, 1,500 nit
- Transmission from the remote controller up to 300 m
- One-to-one and one-to-many modes for multiple displays
- Reverse control via touch from the display
- 6,000 mAh battery, about 4 h running time
- Aluminium body, IP43, about 1.3 kg
2-in-1 loudspeaker and searchlight kit
A single quick-release payload combining searchlight and loudspeaker: lights the working area during night operations and broadcasts messages and alarms to crews or the public, controlled from the drone's remote controller.
- Searchlight: 30,000 lm, 300 W peak, 16.7° beam, 0–90° tilt
- 15 m spot at 50 m altitude, 30 m at 100 m
- Loudspeaker: 130 dBA, effective range 500 m
- Live voice, recordings, audio files, text-to-speech and alarms
- Weight: searchlight 1.28 kg, loudspeaker 449 g
- −20 to +45 °C, compatible with the FlyCart 100
Every component has a reason
It is the difference between buying the same items separately and receiving a system that works as one.
DJI FlyCart 100
The carrier with enough payload and winch capacity to handle a full bucket, with integrated radar, LiDAR and parachute.
Firefighting bucket
Self-supporting structure for ground filling, level sensor and metered release: the water goes where it is needed, in the quantity decided.
Tank and motor pump
Without a reserve close to the take-off point the cycles get longer: the inflatable tank eliminates trips to the source.
Generator and batteries
They recharge in the field, where there is no mains grid: this is what makes the cycle repeatable for the whole operating day.
FTS and parachute kit
These are the technical requirements that make authorisation for flight above 25 kg achievable and reduce the risk to third parties on the ground.
Multi-terminal control
Two remote controllers and a field display separate the roles: who pilots, who controls the bucket, who decides the intervention.
DroneBase
Integrates, tests, trains the operators and follows the authorisation process: a single partner for the whole system.
Technical specifications of the firefighting drone and bucket
Manufacturer data: dual battery, 25 °C, sea level, no wind.
System parameters
| UAV platform | DJI FlyCart 100 cargo multirotor with winch |
|---|---|
| Maximum take-off weight | 170 kg |
| Maximum payload | 85 kg (dual-battery configuration) |
| Firefighting payload | 80 L bucket, 6 kg empty, IP67 |
| Proposed operational fill | ≈ 70 L per release, regulated by the level sensor |
| Field water reserve | 7,000 L inflatable tank, Ø 3 m × 1 m, 43 kg |
| Releases per full tank | Up to 100 releases of 70 L |
| Supply line | 2″ NPSH suction, 20 m × 25 mm hose |
| Field power | DJI D14000iE 14 kW inverter generator supplied; charging 30→95% in about 9 min in supercharge mode |
| Communication | O4 up to 10 km (CE) + 4G; field display up to 300 m |
| GNSS / RTK | Hovering accuracy ± 10 cm |
| Safety | Integrated parachute, MOC-2511 FTS, bucket emergency jettison |
| Operating temperature | Carrier −20 to +40 °C · bucket −25 to +55 °C |
DJI FlyCart 100
| Flight time | 14 min (MTOW 149.9 kg) |
|---|---|
| Hovering | 12 min (MTOW 149.9 kg) |
| Maximum distance | 12 km (MTOW 149.9 kg) |
| Max horizontal speed | 20 m/s |
| Wind resistance | 12 m/s |
| Winch | 0–30 m cable, retrieval up to 1.2 m/s |
| Sensing | Millimetre-wave radar, LiDAR, vision, FPV |
| Protection rating | IP55 |
Firefighting bucket
| Capacity | 80 L or 150 L |
|---|---|
| Empty weight | 6 kg ± 100 g |
| Power supply | On-board + 2,000 mAh, 12 V battery |
| Control | DJI or dedicated remote controller, buttons |
| Release | Max flow 100 L, release up to 20 L/s |
| Refilling | On the ground with hose or pick-up in flight |
| Control module | 24 V · 430 g · CAN, Wi-Fi, 4G |
| Protection rating | IP67 |
Performance subject to environmental conditions, configuration and the authorisation limits of the operating scenario.
Applications of the wildfire firefighting drone
Wildfires
Hotspots in areas with no road access: the aerial carrier covers the last stretch that vehicles cannot.
Slopes and ridges
Where carrying water by hand is slow and risky, the aerial cycle repeats without exhausting the crews.
Post-fire mop-up
Monitoring of residual hotspots, with targeted releases on the hot points identified by reconnaissance.
Wildland-urban interface
Protection of homes and infrastructure bordering woodland and Mediterranean scrub.
Infrastructure in wooded areas
Power lines, railways and isolated plants, where a hotspot must be contained before it spreads.
Logistics support
Outside emergencies, the same carrier transports materials and equipment with the winch.
Before you buy, let's verify together that this is the right solution
Describe your application: our engineers analyse requirements, operating environment, water availability and objectives, and indicate the most suitable configuration — or tell you if it is not the right fit.
Answers to the most common questions
Does the system arrive already configured?
Is the ENAC authorisation included?
How long does the training last?
Why the 80 L bucket and not the 150 L?
Is a nearby water source required?
Is mains power needed in the field?
Can I integrate other accessories?
What are the delivery times?
Is a demo possible?
Can a public body purchase it?
Why DroneBase
Since 2012, Europe’s reference point for professional UAV technology
DJI Super Gold Dealer, the only one in Europe. Headquarters, warehouse, service centre and demo area in Rimini, Italy: you see the system working before you buy it, and this is where it comes back for maintenance and updates.
- ISO 9001 certified — certified quality in sales, training and service
- Training with certified instructors — DroneBase Academy, pilot certificates and STS scenarios
- Technical and regulatory consulting on complex scenarios, ENAC and EASA
- R&D for complex projects and tailor-made integrations
- Full support, before and after the sale, with a dedicated technical contact
Let's talk about your wildfire application
Do you have an application to solve? Tell us what you need to do: a DroneBase engineer analyses the application and identifies the most suitable configuration, with the related offer. Fill in the form: one of our specialists takes charge of your request and gets back to you with the technical and commercial information and, if needed, to arrange a consultation or a demo. No obligation.
