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I think I (and maybe others) understood 'drone' to mean something closer to quad-copters. Sounds like you're actually proposing something closer to water-filled cruise missiles? Which actually seems like a compelling idea. I'd guess there are some questions around how to make the vehicle recoverable/reusable, or else how to avoid causing more fire than you're putting out when the vehicle splatters against terrain, and even more questions around operating the things (autonomously vs. remotely, launch/recovery, ...).

But I do love the image of a satellite spotting a quarter-acre IR hotspot and firing a dozen USFS Tomahawks filled with with retardant to nip it in the bud.

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>I think I (and maybe others) understood 'drone' to mean something closer to quad-copters. Sounds like you're actually proposing something closer to water-filled cruise missiles?

as i said in original post - "not small quadcopters, more like WWII size bombers". I use V1 as a close and real existing example of a drone wrt. size and simplicity/cheapness of construction. Though i think 2x-4x of that size would be more suitable and convenient.

>how to make the vehicle recoverable/reusable

just regular software for a plane type drone. The drone comes, drops the water and returns. Can do it GPS/inertial, AI targeted or remote controlled (like say put a Starlink on it how Ukrainians do it sometimes).

>else how to avoid causing more fire than you're putting out when the vehicle splatters against terrain

while normally the drone would return back, accidental crashes of course unavoidable. You don't have to carry much fuel as the drones can be spread around the state on say a 200km grid. The fuel tank can be made with automatic foam generator or something like this triggered if/when the drone goes down crashing.

> just

the most dangerous word in software engineering

it works fine for Ukraine sending drones to the targets 1000 km away (commercial large drones bought from China). And their task is more complex like for example they have to care about flying low to avoid air-defense for example, etc.

That would really give red flag warnings more teeth. "We said no campfires" kablam

Smokey would have a different tone too. "Only you, plus our array of guided missiles, can prevent forest fires."

this, this is exactly what I want. flick a cigarette off ACH, get a rainstorm delivered to the top of your head at 600mph.