VIM 24 / VIM 27 ARFF Crash Tender (4x4)

The VIM 24 / VIM 27 is Desautel's light-weight Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) crash tender built on an all-wheel-drive MAN 4x4 platform with a 440 HP engine. The two variants differ only in water tank fill — 2,400 litres (VIM 24) or 2,700 litres (VIM 27) — both paired with a 380-litre foam compound tank and a 250 kg dry-chemical (DC powder) system, giving the crew three suppression agents from a single vehicle. The GRP (glass-reinforced plastic) tanks keep unladen weight low while resisting corrosion in hot, humid climates.

A centrifugal pump driven off the auxiliary engine delivers 2,800 lpm at 13 bar, feeding a roof-mounted dual-flow monitor rated at 2,500 lpm / 1,250 lpm. A front-swivelling reel carrying 30 m of semi-rigid DN33 hose gives crew rapid perimeter access. DN45 and DN70 discharge outlets are fitted as standard, and a CAN-Bus control system with an in-cab screen centralises all discharge and monitoring functions inside the two-seat aluminium cab.

This class is matched to airports serving up to Category 6 traffic — regional jets and narrowbodies operating at secondary hubs, domestic terminals, business-aviation bases, and remote airfields. Its 4x4 configuration makes it well-suited to airports with restricted manoeuvre areas or where a lighter first-response appliance supplements a larger 6x6 fleet. In GCC contexts, VIM 24/27-class vehicles are regularly specified at domestic terminals and military airfields where A320/737-family aircraft represent the largest type. Desautel's French manufacturing heritage and export presence across more than 60 countries provide a well-established supply chain for spares and service.