Florian Kubowski, ARFF Driving Academy, discusses design and operational trends, procurement strategies and why effective operator training is critical amid growing vehicle complexity 

Airport Rescue and Firefighting Vehicles (ARFFVs) play a definitive role in ensuring airport safety worldwide. These highly specialised vehicles combine rapid response capabilities, advanced firefighting performance and outstanding capacity for carrying extinguishing agents.

Evolving from modified municipal fire trucks to today’s purpose-built machines, ARFFVs now incorporate advanced technologies to meet the unique challenges of aviation operations. 

Requirements 

International standards for ARFF vehicles differ in detail but consistently emphasise three core requirements: delivering a specified quantity of extinguishing agents within a defined time frame and fighting fires with a specified discharge rate.  

These primary objectives set the standards for ARFFV engineers around the world, while secondary requirements such as maximum acceleration, top speed, off-road capability or pump specifications play a significant role in shaping the design. As a result, ARFFVs are among the few fire-fighting vehicles in the world with a remarkably consistent basic design concept. 

History 

Until the late 1960s, airport fire trucks were generally modified versions of standard fire trucks, with a few exceptions and adapted to carry larger amounts of extinguishing agents. However, the rise of wide-body jets, which increased fuel and passenger capacity, led to the development of purpose-built airport fire tenders.

These new vehicles were based on specialised, often non-commercial, or heavily modified chassis designed to handle larger loads, deliver greater performance and operate with completely different dimensions and capabilities than their predecessors. 

Overview 

While ARFFVs based on commercial chassis (e.g. Buffalo or Advancer class*) are still available and in service, ARFF vehicles are mainly divided into those based on commercial chassis and those based on non-commercial chassis. 

Commercial based ARFF vehicles typically carry between 4,000 and 12,000 litres of extinguishing agent (typically with gross weights of up to 30,000 kg, 2.5 m wide and in 4×4 or 6×6 configurations) and are suitable for smaller or specialised airports, such as those used by the military. 

On the other hand, non-commercial chassis vehicles, such as the Striker, Z-Class, Panther or Falcon*, designed for larger airports, are much heavier (up to 57,000 kg), wider (up to 3.3 m), can carry up to 19,500 litres of extinguishing agent and have engines with up to over 1,500 hp that can reach speeds in excess of 140 km/h. 

The non-commercial portfolio includes vehicles in 4×4 (1500), 6×6 (3000) and 8×8 (4500) configurations, including 6×6 narrow-body versions (2.5 m wide). While non-commercial vehicles offer greater performance and reserves than commercial models, they are significantly more expensive to purchase and maintain. 

The 4×4 ARFFVs, which are relatively light and fast, are often used as rapid response vehicles or as the main ARFFV at smaller airports. 

The 6×6, with a gross weight of up to 39,000 kg, is a versatile mid-size option that excels at carrying large amounts of extinguishant and equipment; it offers more stable handling than the 4×4, but due to its single-engine configuration, it is usually the slowest ARFF vehicle in terms of acceleration among the internal combustion models (except for special twin-engine versions). 

The 8×8 is the top-of-the-range ARFFV: the most powerful, usually the fastest (when gross weight is less than 50,000 kg) and the heaviest, but also the most expensive.

Typically equipped with twin-engine powertrains (and occasionally a separate pump engine), these vehicles are usually characterised by rapid acceleration, high top speeds and superior driving safety, with excellent roll stability and steering precision.

Their capabilities are critical to meeting response times on demanding routes at major international airports, making them a deliberate choice despite their higher cost. 

Trends and Developments 

ARFF vehicles have evolved significantly over the last few decades. The first phase (late 1960s to early 2010s) focused on increasing performance, reducing acceleration times and improving handling characteristics.

For example, 50-tonne vehicles that once took up to 50 seconds to accelerate to 80 km/h now do so in less than 20 seconds. Aspects considered include chassis frame shape and width, different types of suspension, optimised steering control, dual-engine concepts, rear-axle steering systems or High Reach Extendable Turrets (HRETs). 

The second phase, which began about 1.5 decades ago and is still ongoing, introduced ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems), including features such as automatic differential lock (ADM), rollover warning, electronic stability control (ESC) or electronic braking systems (EBS). 

More recently, even more advanced technologies have been introduced, such as mirror replacement systems, intelligent turning assistance and real-time system monitoring and tracking (telematics). Modern cabs now also offer enhanced crash protection, increased space, reduced noise and improved visibility. 

Nevertheless, we also observe increasing gross weights and higher centres of gravity as more and more features are integrated into these vehicles, with a corresponding impact on driving dynamics.

Florian Kubowski

For instance, some 8×8 trucks with a water capacity of 12,500 litres now exceed 50,000 kg, whereas 15 years ago, comparable 8×8 trucks with the same capacity weighed approximately 42,000 kg. 

In recent years there has been a significant drive to meet the highest emission standards, such as Euro 6. While this has improved emissions, it has also added weight, increased the complexity of exhaust systems and reduced performance. 

At the same time, we are seeing the emergence of ARFF vehicles with alternative drive technologies, with models such as the Panther Electric, Z-Class Hybrid or Striker Volterra* leading the way. Some of these vehicles have already been sold and are about to enter service.

These innovations range from plug-in hybrid systems, which combine combustion engines with electric motors in a parallel drive train, to fully electric solutions, either without a range extender or equipped with one as a serial hybrid. 

Florian Kubowski

In addition to optimising emissions and efficiency, particularly during non-emergency operations, alternatively powered vehicles offer significant advantages. They can carry extinguishant volumes comparable to many 8×8 vehicles while delivering substantially more power than standard 6×6 models. 

These alternatively powered versions are reported to achieve acceleration times similar to 8×8 vehicles with comparable payloads. The key advantage is that they accomplish this with lower acquisition and lifecycle costs, thanks to their efficient operation and simpler design. 

Closing remarks 

I strongly advocate for manufacturers to prioritise stable and predictable driving dynamics. I emphasise that all assistance systems, whether active or passive, must be specifically tailored for ARFF vehicles, drawing from commercial truck technologies.

Systems that are unsuitable for ARFF applications, intervene too early, act in parallel or semi-redundantly, or are overly conservative can disrupt operators and reduce vehicle effectiveness. 

From an instructor’s perspective, the ideal ARFF vehicle should be capable of safely navigating access routes within the required time frame while providing sufficient reserves through excellent driving behaviour.

Safety systems must support, not overwhelm, the operator. The vehicle should be highly efficient, optimised for emissions and widely accepted by well-trained users who can operate both the vehicle and its systems effectively, ensuring that it fulfils its primary mission—to save lives. 

This article was originally published in the March 2025 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal – to read your FREE digital copy, click here.