Oshkosh Airport Products has placed six Striker Volterra Electric Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) 6×6 vehicles into service at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), making the airport one of the first in the nation to adopt electric drive ARFF technology as part of its wider operational strategy.
The company said the vehicles were supplied through Siddons-Martin Emergency Group and form part of DFW’s plan to replace its legacy ARFF fleet with a modern, electrified response system.
According to Oshkosh Airport Products, DFW is expected to become the largest Striker Volterra Electric ARFF fleet operator in the US by late 2025.
The deployment is intended to support both performance and emissions objectives across the airport’s fire and rescue operations.
Daniel White, Chief of DFW Fire-Rescue, said the shift to electric-drive vehicles is focused on frontline response outcomes.
Daniel White, Chief of DFW Fire-Rescue, said: “Enhancing performance by reducing response times is the key driver of transitioning to these new vehicles.
“The Striker Volterra vehicles are faster and more agile than our current fleet.
“Because they are also safe for our firefighters and conscious for the environment, this investment represents a rare win-win-win, delivering operational benefits while ensuring the safety of our responders and the community we serve.”
Oshkosh Airport Products explained that the Striker Volterra Electric 6×6 ARFF combines a proprietary electric powertrain with an electro-mechanical infinitely variable transmission.
This configuration allows the vehicle to operate in electric mode with zero emissions during station entry, standby and low-speed operations.
The company stated that this mode of operation reduces firefighter exposure to diesel exhaust during routine movements and staging.
When higher output is required, the system draws power from both the onboard battery and internal combustion engine, maintaining acceleration and pump performance without additional input from the driver.
Oshkosh Airport Products reported that the Striker Volterra Electric 6×6 can accelerate from 0–50 mph (0–80 kph) in under 21 seconds when fully loaded, representing a 28% improvement over comparable diesel models.
The vehicles are equipped with TAK-4 all-wheel independent suspension, which is designed to improve control and ride quality over varied surfaces.
Each unit carries a 3,000-gallon (11,356-litre) water tank and a 420-gallon (1,590-litre) foam tank to support ARFF operations.
The pump system delivers 2,000 gpm (7,570 lpm) of water and incorporates a 500 lb. (250 kg) dry chemical powder system for multi-agent response capability.
An electronic foam proportioning system is integrated with the Oshkosh ECO-EFP foam testing system to enable foam performance verification without agent discharge.
Oshkosh Airport Products noted that the new Striker Volterra Electric ARFF vehicles form part of DFW’s programme to transition to fluorine-free firefighting foam.
The company said this aligns with Federal Aviation Administration guidance and the broader industry move away from PFAS-based agents in ARFF operations.
The change is intended to maintain consistent and environmentally focused response capability across the airport’s ARFF fleet.
To support long-term integration of electric ARFF vehicles, DFW has upgraded its ARFF stations with 480-volt charging infrastructure.
According to the company, all Striker Volterra Electric vehicles delivered to DFW are equipped with onboard chargers.
The enhanced charging infrastructure is intended to support current vehicle requirements and provide capacity for future power demands as the fleet evolves.
Travis Ownby, sales specialist with Siddons-Martin Emergency Group, said the role of the dealer extends beyond supplying vehicles.
Travis Ownby, sales specialist with Siddons-Martin Emergency Group, said: “Our commitment goes far beyond delivering a vehicle.
“It’s about helping departments like DFW Fire-Rescue lead the way in operational excellence and sustainability.
“We’re proud to support their mission with the Striker Volterra Electric ARFF vehicles.”
According to Oshkosh Airport Products, DFW Fire-Rescue is responsible for protecting nearly 90 million passengers each year.
The airport’s fire department is described as being recognised internationally for its aircraft fire response, firefighter training and airport emergency preparedness capabilities.
The company indicated that the Striker Volterra Electric ARFF fleet has been integrated into this existing operational framework.
The deployment is intended to match high call volume and varied emergency response demands across the airport environment.
Oshkosh Airport Products positioned the new vehicles as a response to both current operational requirements and future service expectations at DFW.
Airport fire chiefs and senior ARFF officers may view DFW’s deployment of six Striker Volterra Electric ARFF vehicles as an example of how electric-drive platforms can be introduced at scale into aircraft rescue fleets while maintaining acceleration, pumping performance and range requirements documented by the manufacturer.
Procurement officers and equipment specifiers responsible for ARFF apparatus can use the detailed technical data provided by Oshkosh Airport Products on acceleration, tank capacities, pumping output and multi-agent capability to benchmark electric-drive ARFF vehicles against existing diesel-based fleets.
Airport and mass transit facility managers may focus on DFW’s decision to modernise ARFF stations with 480-volt charging infrastructure and onboard chargers, illustrating that vehicle acquisition has been planned alongside power supply upgrades rather than as a standalone project.
Fire safety officers, risk assessors and environmental managers can note that the integration of Striker Volterra Electric ARFF vehicles coincides with DFW’s move to fluorine-free foam, aligning vehicle and agent selection with FAA guidance and wider industry changes around PFAS-based agents.
