High-Tech Air Force Apparatus

When it comes to promoting new technology, Pierce Manufacturing is no stranger.

For the past two-plus years, the U.S. Air Force has been working with the Defense Logistics Agency to develop new Rapid Intervention Vehicles (RIVs). These high-tech, smaller vehicles are being developed to provide a powerful firefighting punch–in an inexpensive way–for Air Force bases around the world.

The 207 vehicles will be built by Pierce Manufacturing at its Bradenton (Fla.) plant. Each unit will be built on a Ford F-550 chassis with a 400-gallon tank and a 40-gallon foam tank. The idea is for these vehicles to provide the same firefighting technology as a full-sized vehicle that costs three times as much.

In case you’re wondering, “What’s so new about that?” here’s the answer: The units feature ultra-high pressure (UHP) firefighting technology, which has been developed and tested extensively over the past several years, and uses two-thirds less water and foam than a traditional fire truck.  

The water droplets are smaller than normal and are delivered at a higher velocity, which has a greater effect on compartment-type fires. When combined with aqueous film forming foam (AFFF), this technology provides quick extinguishment and offers greater foam covering when applied to hydrocarbon-type fires.

The Air Force will use these trucks as first-due apparatus when an aircraft goes down. The trucks’ smaller profile enables them to get into tight spaces that a larger ARFF vehicle wouldn’t be able to access.

Plans call for the vehicles to have a bumper-mounted turret that’s capable of discharging 60 gallons of firefighting agent per minute at 1,350 psi. Further, it’s believed that the units designated as P-34 will replace older P-19 vehicles, and that at least one will be stationed at every base, with multiple units being stationed at larger bases.

I’ve seen various demonstrations of UHP technology, and it is certainly impressive for a quick firefighting knock-down. Will we see widespread use of this firefighting option? With the economy staying stagnant and fire departments doing more with less, only time will tell.