Oshkosh Airport Products has received a contract to supply Striker aircraft rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) vehicles to the US Air Force (USAF).
Under the contract, the company will manufacture and deliver 16 new generation Striker vehicles, including seven 4 x 4 and nine 6 x 6 variants.
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All of the vehicles are expected to be equipped with an ultra high pressure (UHP) firefighting systems, which feature a pump that delivers 300GPM of foam at 1,250PSI through a front bumper turret.
Oshkosh Airport Products vice-president and general manager Jeff Resch said: "Our unwavering mission is to build the safest, most effective and powerful ARFF vehicles on the planet, and the addition of an ultra high pressure firefighting system adds another level of capability to our toolbox.
"Development and testing by the USAF shows significant advantages for UHP firefighting systems, and we’re excited to have this new technology integrated with the Oshkosh Striker."
UHP systems are designed to release smaller water droplets at much higher pressure than legacy firefighting systems. This leads to comparatively less water usage and faster knockdown performance when used along with Class B foam.
Oshkosh Striker was launched in April 2010. It is a specialised ARFF available in three models, namely 1500, 3000, 4500, all fitted with a nozzle that can pierce an aircraft fuselage to dispense fire retardant material within a cabin or cargo area.
The vehicle is powered by a 670 HP Deutz engine. Its TAK-4 all-wheel and fully independent suspension provides a smooth ride and enhanced off-road capabilities, as does the purpose-built instrumentation and controls.
In addition, the cab has 84ft2 of glass and a 238° horizontal viewing radius to offer unobstructed panoramic views of the scene with improved forward, upward and lateral visibility.
The first vehicles are scheduled to be deployed to key USAF air bases worldwide, including those at home, South Korea, Japan, and Turkey, from July of this year.
Image: An illustration of the 6×6 Oshkosh Striker aircraft rescue and fire fighting vehicle scheduled to be delivered to USAF. Photo: courtesy of Oshkosh Corporation.
