New cookers and fuel for British troops
BCB International will supply the British armed forces with new operational ration cookers and fuel under a four-year contract with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on 23 November.
The fuel to be supplied by BCB International is called ‘FireDragon’, an innovative solid fuel made from ethanol. It marks the MoD’s move away from Hexamine, the fuel provided to troops for more than forty years for cooking in the field.
A new folding cooker will also be supplied under the contract. Together, the cooker and fuel pack weighs less than 300g, and the FireDragon fuel will boil 500ml of water in under 8 minutes.
Andrew Howell, managing director, BCB, said: ‘The MoD were looking for a solution that amongst other things was lightweight, could boil 500ml of water in under 11 minutes, was easy to light and extinguish, burned cleanly and is easily transportable.
‘The ‘FireDragon’ fuel is good news for our troops. It will enable soldiers to cook their ready to eat meals with a safer and cleaner fuel. Our fuel is non-toxic, non-drip and made from 100% natural ingredients, including sustainably sourced ethanol.’
According to the company FireDragon burns cleanly and leaves very little residue; allowing soldiers to spend less time on cleaning their cooking equipment and more time on their vital operational roles.
Howell added: ‘Wherever they operate, whether in driving rain, the freezing arctic or searing heat, the fuel will enable soldiers to heat their rations whenever required.’
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