Four Key Capabilities to Consider When Designing Your Next Striker® ARFF Vehicle

Selecting the right Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) vehicle is one of the most important decisions an airport fire department can make. With a wide range of configurations and custom options available, designing the right truck for your operation can feel complex, but it doesn’t have to be.

In this blog, we break down the four core capabilities every department should prioritize when planning a new ARFF purchase. We’ll also highlight additional customization options to help you tailor your ARFF vehicle to your unique environment and operational needs.

1. Response Time: Speed, Control and Confidence Under Pressure

Response time isn’t just about top speed. It’s about how quickly and confidently your ARFF vehicle can accelerate, navigate tight airfields and uneven terrain while still maintaining control.

One of the biggest challenges operators face is maintaining steering control at high speeds. Vehicles without independent suspension are susceptible to bump steer, where uneven ground causes unintended changes in steering angle. When one wheel hits a pothole or obstacle, it can force the vehicle off course—increasing the risk of overcorrection and slowing response time when precision matters most.

Striker ARFF vehicles are engineered to help overcome these challenges and optimize time-to-agent, helping crews reach the incident scene faster and begin suppression sooner.

Key features and advantages of the Striker ARFF include:

• Rapid acceleration and high-speed response — The Striker® Volterra® Electric ARFF delivers powerful launch performance, reaching 0–50 mph in under 25 seconds, while traditional 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 still offer outstanding acceleration performance.
• TAK-4® Independent Suspension — Designed to help reduce bump steer and improve overall stability, the TAK-4 system allows each wheel to react independently to terrain. With its own shock absorber and spring, each wheel maintains ground contact, giving operators control, smooth handling and the confidence to maintain speed in unpredictable surfaces and in the harshest environments.
• Maneuverability and turning control — Wheel travel and optimized suspension geometry help shorten the turning radius, allowing operators to navigate tight spaces and respond effectively to changing conditions on the airfield. In addition, you can spec your vehicle with rear steer, which tightens the vehicle’s turning radius and helps manage the wear and tear on tires.
• Electronic Stability Control — Helps reduce overcorrection and maintain control on variable surfaces, enhancing operator confidence during high-speed response.
• Customized Cab Environment — Our engineering team designs custom cab environments that prioritize both comfort and efficiency for your airport’s firefighting operations. Featuring a center-focused cockpit, operators are positioned for optimal control, surrounded by intuitively arranged, color-coded controls. A 12 inch (30 cm) camera display enhances visibility, giving you the confidence to respond quickly and effectively when challenges arise.

2. Precise Agent Application: Faster Knockdown, Fewer Re-Attacks

Once on scene, effectiveness depends on how quickly and accurately fire suppression agents can be applied. Striker ARFF vehicles are designed to deliver precise agent application, helping crews control incidents quickly and reduce the need for re-entry.

Key capabilities and features include:

• High Reach Extendable Turret (HRET) — The Oshkosh® Snozzle® HRET reaches heights of up to 65 feet (19 m), allowing crews to attack fires from above or at a distance. With integrated thermal imaging and fuselage-piercing capabilities, operators can locate and suppress hidden fires without sending personnel inside the aircraft.
• Integrated low-angle attack — The Snozzle’s low attack capability delivers agent directly at ground level, helping control overspray and providing outstanding effectiveness on fuel-surface and landing gear fires.
• True ground-level suppression — The available low attack bumper turret positions the discharge point as low as 12 inches (30 cm) above the surface, giving crews precise control when targeting the most common ARFF fire scenarios.
• Seamless transition between attack modes — Operators can quickly shift between high and low attack strategies, helping improve knockdown time and help minimize the likelihood of re-ignition.

Get a closer look at the Snozzle HRET in these videos

3. Foam and Regulatory Readiness

Regulations and foam requirements are evolving, making it essential to design an ARFF vehicle that’s ready for both current and future standards.

Striker ARFF vehicles are engineered with foam flexibility and compliance in mind, helping departments stay ahead of regulatory changes.

Key considerations and capabilities include:

• Fluorine-free foam (F3) compatibility — Designed to support the transition away from traditional AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam), ensuring readiness for FAA and global regulatory shifts.
• Closed-loop / no-discharge foam testing — Systems like the Oshkosh® Eco EFP System™ allow for annual foam testing without environmental discharge, managing risk and simplifying compliance.
• Consistent and accurate proportioning — Helps ensure reliable agent performance across varying operating conditions, helping crews apply the right mix when it matters most.

By prioritizing foam system readiness, your ARFF vehicle can remain compliant for years to come.

4. Crew and Incident Safety

All Oshkosh Airport Products ARFF vehicles are designed to help protect operators in every phase of response.

Key ARFF safety features include:

• Clean Cab and Carcinogen Reduction — Oshkosh’s CARE (Carcinogen Awareness & Reduction to Exposure) Clean Cab design further enhances crew safety by helping address firefighters’ exposure to harmful contaminants. Features such as a flat, easy-to-clean cab floor create a washout-friendly environment, while available options like cleanable seating, onboard wash stations for boots and gear, and external SCBA storage help limit the transfer of carcinogens into the cab.
• Occupant and rollover protection — Striker and Striker Volterra are engineered with crashworthy design principles and integrated safety systems, including airbags, to help protect personnel during operation. Optional side curtain airbags and seat belt pretensioners provide added protection in the event of a rollover. The vehicles also features Electronic Stability Control (ESC), which works in conjunction with the braking system to detect instability caused by low-friction surfaces or potential rollover conditions. When an imbalance is detected, the system automatically reduces engine power and applies braking to help maintain vehicle control and safety.
  
• Improved on-scene environment — The Striker® Volterra® Electric ARFF combines an innovative electric drive system with a clean diesel engine when operated in electric vehicle mode. This feature helps control diesel exhaust exposure, noise and fuel consumption, creating a clean and comfortable operating environment for crews.
• Enhanced visibility and scene awareness —
  • Collision mitigation with 360° camera systems for full situational awareness
  • Advanced LED lighting packages for low-visibility conditions
  • Safe-to-Approach lighting to clearly signal when it is safe for personnel to move near the vehicle

These features work together to manage risk, assist decision-making and enhance overall crew satisfaction during missions.

Explore the full capabilities of the Striker Volterra Electric ARFF

Additional Striker ARFF Customization Options to Consider

While the four capabilities above are foundational to an ARFF vehicle, Striker ARFF models offer a wide range of additional customization options to enhance performance and operational flexibility. 

Depending on your department’s needs and airport environment, you might consider the following advanced customizations:

• Firefighting Systems
  • Dual agent systems
  • Under-truck nozzles to help protect vehicle undersides from fuel fires
  • Swing-out dual agent hose reels
  • Structural firefighting panel and pump enhancements
  • Automatic crosslay deployment (auto-charging handlines)
• Foam Technology and Compliance
  • Eco EFP foam testing system for environmentally conscious, no-discharge annual testing
  • Compatibility with F3 fluorine-free foam, now widely required by FAA and state regulations
• Vehicle Control, Data and Safety
  • ClearSky Intelligence™ for performance recording and analytics
  • Engine quick start feature for rapid deployment

Not sure which Striker model is right for you? Learn how the Striker 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 stack up and find the right fit for your airport.

Working With Your Local Dealer to Design Your New ARFF Vehicle

Designing an ARFF vehicle that meets your department’s performance, safety and budget requirements can be complex and may seem overwhelming at first, but understanding the value of these four key features can help simplify the process and ensure you’re making the best decisions.

It’s also important to remember your local Oshkosh Airport Products Dealer is your go-to expert throughout the entire process. From early design discussions to the manufacturing process and final delivery, your dealer is there to guide you, answer questions and help you choose the right customizations for your department’s needs and mission.

Ready to begin designing your next ARFF vehicle? Find your local dealer today.