Greece Launches Four Satellites to Detect Wildfires

Greece launched four thermal-imaging satellites in May, becoming the first country to integrate a dedicated satellite array into its national firefighting operations. Each satellite is smaller than carry-on luggage and carries sensors that can identify fires four meters wide. Data are processed by artificial-intelligence models and sent to commanders with calculated location, size and intensity.

Greek wildfire response Greece recorded its hottest summer on record in 2024. Two major fires in 2018 and 2023 killed more than 100 people and burned the largest area ever recorded in the European Union. The new satellites supplement drones and ground sensors already expanded after the 2018 disaster. They also fill coverage gaps left by existing international satellites.

Planned expansion and future uses Greece is building a wider observation network with three European companies that will add radar and optical satellites. The full system is budgeted at 200 million euros and funded by the European Union, with further satellite launches scheduled by the end of the year.

Officials say the same network will later support border surveillance, crop monitoring and identification of urban heat islands.