United Kingdom to supply Ukraine with special fire engines
7 July, 2023 RIV RG 93 AA airport fire engine of the Royal Air Force at RAF Benson. Photo from the network The United Kingdom announced the transfer of 17 special fire engines to Ukraine.
The Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom made the corresponding statement. The Rapid Intervention and Major Foam Vehicles were previously owned by the Royal Air Force, Defence Fire and Rescue, and the Welsh Government. The vehicles are due to arrive in the coming weeks.
RIV airport fire engine of the Royal Air Force.Photo credits: RAF
The Ukrainian military fire service has already conducted a week's training at RAF Wittering to familiarise themselves with the equipment in preparation. According to Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, the vehicles would boost the country's ability to withstand the localized effects of missile strikes.
A MFV fire engine next to a Jaguar GR.1a attack aircraft of the 41 Squadron of the Royal Air Force at RAF Coningsby. Photo from the networkThe fire engines will be delivered to the Cambridgeshire military base, where they will be inspected and then sent to Ukraine.
The MFV Major Foam Vehicle and the RIV Rapid Intervention Vehicle entered service with the Royal Air Force in the 1990s and formed the backbone of the Royal Air Force Rescue and Firefighting Service. The MFV Major Foam Vehicle is equipped with tanks for storage of 5,600 liters of water and 680 liters of special foam. Also, the vehicle is equipped with two containers with 50 kg of special powder in each.
MFV Major Foam Vehicle.Photo from the network
The RIV is equipped with a smaller tank for 2,300 liters of water and 300 liters of foam. Similar to the MFV, it is equipped with two containers with 50 kg of special powder in each.
RIV Rapid Intervention Vehicle. Photo from the networkAs Militarnyi previously reported, last month, in its press release, the Office of the Prime Minister of the UK announced financial assistance to Ukraine in the amount of 25 million pounds.
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