AUSA Winter: Ansul launches vehicle fire extinguishing system
Ansul, a brand of Tyco Fire Protection Products, announced at the Association of the US Army’s Winter Symposium the launch of an Automatic Fire Extinguishing System (AFES) developed specifically for military vehicles.
The AFES is a modular design that can be integrated into a variety of vehicles now in service such as the High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle, mine resistance ambush protected vehicles and the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles, as well as vehicles now in development such as the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. The system’s CANbus capability allows for easy AFES interface with vehicle systems.
The company said that within milliseconds of a slow-growth or rapid-spread explosive/ballistic event, fire is detected and contained with a field-proven agent, activated either automatically or manually, depending on the severity.
Fire is detected using quad infrared optical sensors. The system instantly distinguishes between hydrocarbon signatures and innocuous heat sources – such as cigarettes and engine heat – helping to eliminate false positives and preserving protection for when it’s actually needed.
When fire does break out in a crew area, the sensors notify an electronic control module (ECM), which activates both visual and audible alarms and is capable of automatically or manually initiating discharge of the extinguishing agent from one of eight separate zones.
In engine and cargo bays, wheel wells and other non-occupied areas linear detection wire and spot thermal detection sends information to the ECM, again allowing for manual or automatic extinguishment. Clean agent or dry chemical extinguishant options are available.
According to Dave Seikel, Ansul's manager for government sales, the 'AFES offers a step forward in military fire extinguishment engineering, by lightening system weight and increasing response time to exceed military specs'.
More from Land Warfare
-
Rheinmetall wins communications deal that could be worth up to €400 million
The systems have been purchased under a special fund which has already been tapped into for the purchase of 60 CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters worth up to €8 billion (US$8.7 billion) and thousands of Rheinmetall Caracal airmobile special operations vehicles worth €1.9 billion.
-
The Philippines looks to Israel for military equipment amid South China Sea tensions
The southeast Asian country has been enhancing its military readiness by procuring advanced Israeli defence platforms and systems.
-
NSPA signs new helmet system framework deal and agreement for C-UAS systems
The Caiman helmet has been designed to be scalable for dynamic operations with mission-specific accessories and can incorporate electronics, communications headsets and other critical equipment.
-
US Missile Defense Agency’s budget could be cut by $2.6 billion over the next three years
The reduction would impact several acquisition and development programmes, creating capabilities gaps in US missile defence architecture.
-
Israel ramps up Arrow-4 development following Iranian attack
Israel’s Ministry of Defense has fast-tracked the development of the Arrow-4 ballistic missile interceptor in response to recent Iranian ballistic missile attacks.