• Optimized handling and extinguishing performance
• Enhanced safety and comfort
• High-end ARFF with an exciting design

With some 1,400 vehicles in operation in around 90 countries, the PANTHER represents one of the world’s most successful ARFFs. This achievement is simply explained by the PANTHER’s inherent qualities of power, speed and performance, which are underlined at first glance by the striking design of the new, fourth generation. Moreover, the latest version of the vehicle has been further optimized, particularly with regard to occupant safety, extinguishing performance and operating comfort. Indeed, as the first ARFF to meet the environment-friendly Euro 6 standard, the Rosenbauer flagship again sets new benchmarks in aircraft fire protection.

Safety first

Crew safety was the no.1 priority during the design of the newest PANTHER and above all the cabin now offers its occupants even greater protection. The new X-frame forms a solid brace around the driver’s cab, while the slim line A-column and the removal of the C-column guarantee excellent all-round visibility. Once in the vehicle, one has the feeling that one is sitting in a helicopter cockpit. Furthermore, the new PANTHER cab has been crash tested and fulfills the European ECE R29-3 standard with regard to the protection of cabin occupants in head-on collisions.

The entire lighting in the vehicle employs modern LED technology and has been matched to the truck’s design, while new daylight driving lights make it more visible in bad weather. In addition, the improved cabin entrance in combination with the new lighting concept ensures that entering and leaving the vehicle is extremely safe.

New assistance systems

The very latest assistance systems are available to aid the drivers of the new PANTHER. These include tire pressure monitoring, an electronic roll stability control and a radar system (anti-collision guard), which depending on the preset route provides a warning of collisions with any type of object. A Birdview system can also be installed, which furnishes a bird’s eye perspective of the area surrounding the vehicle on the cockpit display.

Moreover, the PANTHER can be equipped with EMEREC DEVS (Driver Enhanced Vision System). This is a locational and navigation system designed especially for airport operations, which even in darkness or poor visibility supplies the driver with precise information regarding the route to the emergency scene.

The very latest in comfort

The new PANTHER also offers comfort of a standard previously unseen in a fire truck. Electrically operated windows and electrically folding additional displays, an automatic rain sensor, automatic air conditioning and an electrically darkened roof window are just some of the comfort features that the vehicle has to offer along with a separate document storage space for the co-drivers and cup holders, etc.

The overview in the cockpit has become clearer as the central console can be folded backwards. The crew also has greater freedom of movement and a subjective sensation of increased space has been created. The extinguishing technology is controlled from a central display in the middle of the cockpit and ergonomically improved backlit joysticks or handles guide the monitors.

New extinguishing technology

The kinematics of the monitor controls have been optimized in order to make the fingertip steering even more precise and simpler. The handles and joysticks now all share the same operational logic and functional scope. Two new, integrated pumps (the N80 and N65) have been developed for the PANTHER along with matching, high-precision monitors (RM80 und RM35) and an electronically controlled foam proportioning system (FIXMIX 2.0 E). A new rotatable front extinguishing boom is available for the RM35 and the entire extinguishing technology in the PANTHER forms a fully coordinated system that has been trimmed to offer maximum extinguishing performance and precision.

Design that shows strength

The show model of the new PANTHER at the Interschutz will be as black as the big cat that shares its name. Everything about the vehicle is redolent of power and elegance, from its main contours to the V-shape of the striking, daytime driving lights, which are reminiscent of the eyes of the truck’s feline namesake. The accentuation of the rear section shows that this is the source of the vehicle’s power, while the forward thrust of the silhouette and the lowered cab furnish the truck with a silhouette that indicates its readiness about to pounce in any emergency.

The clear and eye-catching design is based on Rosenbauer’s visual product language and was systematically further developed for the new PANTHER generation.

Initial customers

4×4 and 6×6 versions of the latest PANTHER generation was displayed at the Interschutz and the new 8×8 will come onto the market in 2017. The first vehicles have already been sold with the PANTHER 6×6 going to Singapore and the PANTHER 4×4 to Qatar. The new PANTHER is manufactured according to industrial standards in Leonding, Austria in the fire industry’s most modern plant. This ensures production efficiency and product quality. Moreover, everything from the chassis to the monitors comes from a single provider and therefore, as in the past two decades, Rosenbauer continues to set the standard for airport fire fighting vehicles.