New Oshkosh Striker Aircraft Rescue And Fire Fighting Vehicle Introduced At Interschuz

The new Oshkosh® Striker® Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting vehicle

Category leading ARFF vehicle displayed at Interschutz 2010 - the world’s largest fire and emergency show.

Oshkosh Airport Products, a division of Oshkosh Corporation [NYSE: OSK], was displaying the new Striker® Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) vehicle at Interschutz in Leipzig, Germany. Unveiled at the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in April, the new Striker features a wide range of industry leading innovations.

“The new Oshkosh Striker is a global product that is engineered to meet the growing emergency response needs at airports of all sizes. One look and you know this is an extraordinary ARFF vehicle,” said Jim Johnson, Oshkosh Corporation executive vice president and president, Fire & Emergency. “Airport fire chiefs and firefighters from around the world – including those from Pakistan, Portugal, the U.S. and South America – assisted the Oshkosh Airport Products team in developing the new Striker. The positive feedback we’ve received from the industry reaffirms our three-year development program investment.”

The new Striker delivers innovative fire suppression technology; unmatched chassis performance; advanced safety systems; unsurpassed reliability and durability; and smart design.

The new Striker’s innovative fire suppression technology includes available Pulse Delivery that allows firefighters to deliver dry chemical powder in a truly “dry” form more than 27meters (90 feet), over three times the capability of other dry chemical systems. The standard 7381 lpm (1950 gpm) single stage pump provides ample fire suppression output to all discharges @ 240psi, delivering full capacity of all discharges simultaneously. In addition, there is an optional 10,000 lpm (2650 gpm) output to handle the most demanding needs. Two crosslays are now available that allow for handline access from either side of the truck for faster deployment of up to 91 meters (300-feet) of hose per crosslay. The new Striker offers electronic foam proportioning, a wide selection of bumper turrets and a high reach extendable turret. In addition, the new Striker is engineered to accommodate Ultra High Pressure (UHP) technology, a high-pressure water system and a Compressed Air Foam (CAF) system to complete its state-of-the-art fire suppression capability.

The new Striker’s chassis sets a new standard for performance:  it is more than 907 kg (2,000-pounds) lighter than its predecessor to provide faster acceleration – a full second faster to 50 mph –from the 700 hp Tier 4i and Euro 5 emissions compliant engine that is rated to perform from -46ºC to +49ºC (-50º to +120º). Outfitted with Oshkosh’s exclusive patented TAK-4® all-wheel independent suspension with dual control arms and 41 cm (16 inches) of wheel travel, the new Striker handles with confidence and dramatically improves off-road mobility. The 341-liter (90-gallon) fuel cell delivers 30 percent more operation time for those critical situations.

Advanced safety systems have been built into all aspects of the vehicle’s design. The new Striker is designed to exceed NFPA requirements for static side slope stability and the cab is built to meet Europe’s stringent ECE 29 Cab Certification for structural integrity. The available forward looking Infrared (FLIR) camera and back-up camera are viewed through a centrally located, 26.4-cm (10.4-inch) dedicated video monitor. Other safety features include a low center of gravity, improved turning radius and available disc brakes that offer 11 percent more braking torque over the current Striker for shorter stopping distance.

Oshkosh vehicles are renowned for their reliability and durability–and the new Striker continues the tradition. An exclusive walk-in service port (with incorporated drip pan) provides easy access to all filters and fluid checks in a single area. The engine access system allows the entire power pack to be removed from the vehicle for easier maintenance (without involving the water tank). The Striker’s easy-to-diagnose troubleshooting system offers real time data assessment displayed from the 26.4-cm (10.4-inch) screen mounted inside the cab.

The vehicle’s smart design features include a Mission Control Console driver environment with function specific, purpose driven controls and color-coded switches and groupings to support trained response actions by firefighters. The jet fighter-like, multi-function joystick control falls within easy reach of the operator. The ergonomically engineered cab offers 7.8-square meters (84-square feet) of glass and an industry leading 238-degree view (at eye level in the horizontal plane), excellent forward, lateral and upward visibility as well as a better view to the roof turret. The spacious cab features 7.8 cubic meters (275 cubic feet) of interior space, enough room to comfortably accommodate up to five firefighters. The body features 1.8 more cubic meters (63 cubic feet) of storage capacity to house more emergency tools and equipment.

Other popular options include rear axle steering, central tire inflation, a 15kW hydraulic generator, Driver Enhanced Vision (DEV) system and a central lube system. The new Striker is initially available as the Striker 1500 (4x4) and Striker 3000 (6x6) axle configuration.