# Tested at Nenana. Awarded in New York. Next stop unnamed.

> In June, controlled fires were set along the Nenana-Totchaket Road, and machines from Nenana's airport had 8 hours to find them alone.

Published 2026-09-24 by Alaska AI. 9 slides.
Canonical: https://alaskaaihq.com/archive/2026-09-24/

## The story

Tested at Nenana.

Anduril first. Dryad second. AURA third.

XPRIZE paid $4.55 million across both tracks. The autonomous track was decided in the Alaska finals, and Lockheed Martin's $1 million detection bonus also went to Anduril.

The exam was flown from Nenana's airport

For two weeks in June the finalists flew from Nenana Municipal Airport. UAF's drone center, ACUASI, managed the airspace. The test site lay along the Nenana-Totchaket Road corridor.

One fire. Ten minutes. 1,000 square kilometers.

Each team's machines watched alone for 8 hours. The goal was to detect and fully suppress a high-risk fire within 10 minutes of ignition.

One 10 minute gate is on the record, for detection

XPRIZE says AURA met the 10 minute detection gate. Dryad says it detected and verified the fire in 12 minutes or less. XPRIZE's release doesn't say any team fully suppressed a fire inside 10 minutes.

"The final prize remains on the horizon"

Adam Broecker, Lockheed Martin, September 23rd.

Alaska's 2025 fires covered nearly seven test areas

XPRIZE estimates Alaska's 2025 season burned 1.68 million acres. That is about 6,800 square kilometers, the 1,000 km² test area nearly seven times over. The tiles show area only, not where anything burned.

What comes next names no Alaska address

XPRIZE now moves to a 12 to 15 month Impact Phase to turn these systems into deployable tools. Dryad plans pilots in 2027 and names no location. The only Alaska institutions in the record are UAF and ACUASI.

Alaska hosted the exam. Should it get a seat in the Impact Phase?

## What we verified

- XPRIZE announced the XPRIZE Wildfire awardees on September 23rd at a ceremony held at the New York City Fire Museum. [XPRIZE via PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xprize-wildfire-awards-4-55m-to-innovators-advancing-wildfire-detection-and-response-302887858.html), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- XPRIZE Wildfire awarded a total of $4.55 million across both of its tracks. [XPRIZE via PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xprize-wildfire-awards-4-55m-to-innovators-advancing-wildfire-detection-and-response-302887858.html), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- XPRIZE Wildfire is an $11 million global competition that launched in 2023. [XPRIZE via PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xprize-wildfire-awards-4-55m-to-innovators-advancing-wildfire-detection-and-response-302887858.html), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- According to the XPRIZE release on PR Newswire, the judging panel awarded $3.5 million across the three Autonomous Wildfire Response finalist teams. [XPRIZE via PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xprize-wildfire-awards-4-55m-to-innovators-advancing-wildfire-detection-and-response-302887858.html), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- The XPRIZE awardees page and Dryad's release both give $2.5 million for the three Track B finalist teams, a figure that excludes the $1 million Lockheed Martin bonus. [XPRIZE](https://www.xprize.org/news/xprize-wildfire-awardees), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- XPRIZE awarded $1.05 million across five teams in Track A, the space-based wildfire detection track. [XPRIZE via PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xprize-wildfire-awards-4-55m-to-innovators-advancing-wildfire-detection-and-response-302887858.html), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- SIRIUS Wildfire Alliance won first place in Track A, the space-based detection track, and $500,000. [XPRIZE](https://www.xprize.org/news/xprize-wildfire-awardees), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- Anduril Industries won first place in the Autonomous Wildfire Response track and $1.2 million. [XPRIZE via PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xprize-wildfire-awards-4-55m-to-innovators-advancing-wildfire-detection-and-response-302887858.html), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- Dryad Networks won second place in the Autonomous Wildfire Response track and $800,000. [XPRIZE via PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xprize-wildfire-awards-4-55m-to-innovators-advancing-wildfire-detection-and-response-302887858.html), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- AURA Foresight won third place in the Autonomous Wildfire Response track and $500,000. [XPRIZE via PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xprize-wildfire-awards-4-55m-to-innovators-advancing-wildfire-detection-and-response-302887858.html), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- Anduril Industries also won the $1 million Lockheed Martin Accurate Detection Intelligence Bonus Prize for its multi-sensor detector performance. [XPRIZE via PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xprize-wildfire-awards-4-55m-to-innovators-advancing-wildfire-detection-and-response-302887858.html), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- Track B teams were challenged to autonomously detect and completely suppress a high-risk fire within 10 minutes of ignition. [XPRIZE via PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xprize-wildfire-awards-4-55m-to-innovators-advancing-wildfire-detection-and-response-302887858.html), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- The Track B test area covered 1,000 square kilometers of challenging terrain. [XPRIZE via PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xprize-wildfire-awards-4-55m-to-innovators-advancing-wildfire-detection-and-response-302887858.html), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- Track B systems had to suppress the target fire without disturbing nearby decoy fires. [XPRIZE](https://www.xprize.org/news/xprize-wildfire-awardees), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- Autonomous Wildfire Response competitors tested their systems in the Alaskan wilderness in June 2026. [XPRIZE via PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xprize-wildfire-awards-4-55m-to-innovators-advancing-wildfire-detection-and-response-302887858.html), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- Over two weeks in June 2026, finalist teams deployed autonomous systems in rural Nenana, Alaska, in partnership with the University of Alaska Fairbanks. [XPRIZE](https://www.xprize.org/news/finals-testing-autonomous-wildfire-response), primary document, 2026-07-01.
- The finals testing site was at the Nenana Municipal Airport, where ACUASI performs flight operations and managed the surrounding airspace during the competition. [XPRIZE](https://www.xprize.org/news/finals-testing-autonomous-wildfire-response), primary document, 2026-07-01.
- Official finals testing at Nenana was scheduled to begin on June 15th. [XPRIZE](https://www.xprize.org/news/finals-testing-autonomous-wildfire-response), primary document, 2026-06-11.
- The Nenana test site lay along the Nenana-Totchaket Road corridor. [XPRIZE](https://www.xprize.org/news/finals-testing-autonomous-wildfire-response), primary document, 2026-07-01.
- At Nenana, each team had to monitor a vast area for 8 hours and detect, locate and suppress up to three controlled incipient-stage wildfires without human intervention. [XPRIZE](https://www.xprize.org/news/finals-testing-autonomous-wildfire-response), primary document, 2026-07-01.
- Three finalists competed in the June 2026 Alaska finals. [Dryad Networks via Business Wire](https://www.financialcontent.com/article/bizwire-2026-9-23-dryad-wins-international-xprize-wildfire-award-for-autonomous-wildfire-detection-and-suppression), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- AURA Foresight rejoined the competition after a finalist spot opened, combining two former semifinalist teams from the UK and Australia. [XPRIZE](https://www.xprize.org/news/finals-testing-autonomous-wildfire-response), primary document, 2026-06-29.
- In January, XPRIZE named five Autonomous Wildfire Response finalists, Anduril, Data Blanket, Dryad, FireSwarm Solutions and Wildfire Quest. [XPRIZE](https://www.xprize.org/news/meet-the-future-of-autonomous-wildfire-response-xprize-wildfire-announces-finalist-teams-advancing-in-11m-competition), primary document, 2026-01-29.
- XPRIZE awarded $750,000 across the autonomous finalist teams when it announced them in January. [XPRIZE](https://www.xprize.org/news/meet-the-future-of-autonomous-wildfire-response-xprize-wildfire-announces-finalist-teams-advancing-in-11m-competition), primary document, 2026-01-29.
- XPRIZE field-tested 13 Autonomous Semifinalist teams in late 2025. [XPRIZE](https://www.xprize.org/news/meet-the-future-of-autonomous-wildfire-response-xprize-wildfire-announces-finalist-teams-advancing-in-11m-competition), primary document, 2026-01-29.
- According to Dryad, it advanced from an original field of approximately 300 entrants in the four-year competition. [Dryad Networks via Business Wire](https://www.financialcontent.com/article/bizwire-2026-9-23-dryad-wins-international-xprize-wildfire-award-for-autonomous-wildfire-detection-and-suppression), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- Dryad's Silvanet is a 170-sensor persistent field network, which XPRIZE credited with Silvaguard drones for demonstrating end-to-end autonomy. [XPRIZE via PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xprize-wildfire-awards-4-55m-to-innovators-advancing-wildfire-detection-and-response-302887858.html), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- According to Dryad, its Silvanet network detected and verified the target fire in 12 minutes or less and autonomously launched a response. [Dryad Networks via Business Wire](https://www.financialcontent.com/article/bizwire-2026-9-23-dryad-wins-international-xprize-wildfire-award-for-autonomous-wildfire-detection-and-suppression), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- Dryad's Suppression Drone deploys up to 100 liters of suppressant on a fire. [Dryad Networks via Business Wire](https://www.financialcontent.com/article/bizwire-2026-9-23-dryad-wins-international-xprize-wildfire-award-for-autonomous-wildfire-detection-and-suppression), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- According to Dryad, its Suppression Drone accurately hit the fire with suppressant during the Alaska tests. [Dryad Networks via Business Wire](https://www.financialcontent.com/article/bizwire-2026-9-23-dryad-wins-international-xprize-wildfire-award-for-autonomous-wildfire-detection-and-suppression), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- XPRIZE said AURA Foresight met the critical 10-minute detection gate with autonomous and persistent detection. [XPRIZE via PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xprize-wildfire-awards-4-55m-to-innovators-advancing-wildfire-detection-and-response-302887858.html), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- XPRIZE credited Anduril's Lattice software platform with an integrated detection-to-suppression pathway unifying cameras, sensors and drones. [XPRIZE via PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xprize-wildfire-awards-4-55m-to-innovators-advancing-wildfire-detection-and-response-302887858.html), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- Track A testing for space-based detection concluded in New South Wales, Australia, in April. [XPRIZE](https://www.xprize.org/news/finals-testing-autonomous-wildfire-response), primary document, 2026-07-01.
- The September 23rd XPRIZE release does not state whether any team fully suppressed a fire within 10 minutes, and Lockheed Martin's Adam Broecker said the final prize remains on the horizon. [XPRIZE via PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xprize-wildfire-awards-4-55m-to-innovators-advancing-wildfire-detection-and-response-302887858.html), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- XPRIZE Wildfire program director Andrea Santy said the teams helped identify where continued innovation is needed before real-world deployment at scale. [XPRIZE via PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xprize-wildfire-awards-4-55m-to-innovators-advancing-wildfire-detection-and-response-302887858.html), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- Dryad CEO Carsten Brinkschulte said drones can suppress a small ignition but their limited payload makes them largely ineffective once a wildfire has grown out of control. [Dryad Networks via Business Wire](https://www.financialcontent.com/article/bizwire-2026-9-23-dryad-wins-international-xprize-wildfire-award-for-autonomous-wildfire-detection-and-suppression), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- XPRIZE describes Interior Alaska testing conditions as unpredictable weather, long distances, rugged terrain and abundant wildlife. [XPRIZE](https://www.xprize.org/news/finals-testing-autonomous-wildfire-response), primary document, 2026-06-18.
- The VIP Day at the finals was welcomed by UAF Vice Chancellor for Research Laura Conner and ACUASI Director Catherine Cahill. [XPRIZE](https://www.xprize.org/news/finals-testing-autonomous-wildfire-response), primary document, 2026-07-01.
- Former U.S. Fire Administrator Lori Moore-Merrell called the finals VIP event a genuine inflection point in how humanity responds to wildfire. [XPRIZE](https://www.xprize.org/news/finals-testing-autonomous-wildfire-response), primary document, 2026-07-01.
- XPRIZE Wildfire now moves into a 12- to 15-month Impact Phase aimed at turning the technologies into deployable wildfire tools. [XPRIZE via PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xprize-wildfire-awards-4-55m-to-innovators-advancing-wildfire-detection-and-response-302887858.html), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- Dryad plans real-world operational pilots of its system in 2027 and targets commercial availability in 2028. [Dryad Networks via Business Wire](https://www.financialcontent.com/article/bizwire-2026-9-23-dryad-wins-international-xprize-wildfire-award-for-autonomous-wildfire-detection-and-suppression), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- XPRIZE Wildfire was sponsored by PG&E, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Minderoo Foundation and Lockheed Martin. [XPRIZE via PR Newswire](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xprize-wildfire-awards-4-55m-to-innovators-advancing-wildfire-detection-and-response-302887858.html), primary document, 2026-09-23.
- XPRIZE says Alaska's 2025 wildfire season burned an estimated 1.68 million acres. [XPRIZE](https://www.xprize.org/news/finals-testing-autonomous-wildfire-response), report, 2026-06-18.

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