VIM 60 / VIM 68 ARFF Crash Tender (6x6)

The VIM 60 / VIM 68 is Desautel's mid-capacity ARFF crash tender, built on an all-wheel-drive MAN 6x6 platform producing 540 HP. The two variants are differentiated by water fill: 6,000 litres (VIM 60) or 6,800 litres (VIM 68), each supported by a 920-litre foam compound tank and a 250 kg dry-chemical system. The 6x6 drivetrain delivers the traction and ground clearance required to cross unpaved or uneven apron surfaces rapidly, particularly on fields where dedicated access roads do not reach all runway shoulders. The centrifugal pump delivers 5,400 lpm at 13 bar — nearly double the output of the smaller VIM 24/27 class — feeding a roof monitor rated at a minimum 1,500 lpm for sustained bulk-foam application from distance. The same 30 m DN33 semi-rigid hose reel, DN45/DN70 discharge outlets, aluminium two-seat cab, and CAN-Bus control architecture carry over from the smaller range, ensuring crew familiarity across the VIM family. This class covers airports categorised ICAO 7 and can contribute to ICAO 8 compliant fleets when paired with additional tenders. That range encompasses airports regularly receiving wide-body traffic including A330, B777, and B767 types — mid-size international hubs, busy charter and leisure terminals, and major domestic airports across the GCC and wider Middle East. The flexibility of the 60/68 split allows procurement teams to fine-tune response water margin to suit the largest aircraft type regularly scheduled, without stepping up to the heavier and costlier 9,000-litre VIM 90.