New pararescue truck coming to Guardian Angels

[unhappycamper]

New pararescue truck coming to Guardian Angels
By Michael Hoffman - Staff writer
Posted : Monday Nov 2, 2009 5:51:36 EST

The Air Force knows what it wants for its pararescue teams: a light but rugged truck that can be parachuted into combat, loaded up with wounded troops and driven to a pick-up zone.

Still in the early stages of development, the Guardian Angel Air-Droppable Rescue Vehicle will be big enough to transport four pararescuemen and four troops — two ambulatory and two on stretchers — yet small enough to be dropped from a cargo plane or unloaded from a heavy-lift helicopter or cargo plane.

“Our Guardian Angels have a lot of technical rescue equipment … that you usually see on firetrucks. … Well, our guys have to haul it in on their back so they need smaller, lighter pieces of equipment, and it would be nice to have a vehicle to carry some of that tonnage,” said Jeff Murphy, a former pararescueman helping design the GAARV at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

Because of its durability, the truck also will be available for humanitarian missions during hurricanes and other natural disasters. It will be able to operate in up to 3 feet of water, according to specifications posted on a Web site that lists federal business opportunities for private companies.

The Air Force intends to buy 96 of the trucks, according to Stacey S. McKinney, Guardian Angel program manager. She predicted the contract will be awarded before the end of fiscal 2010 but didn’t provide a date when the rescue vehicle will be ready for the field.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2009/11/airforce_guardian_angel_110109w/

[Ian David]

1. Oh, good. For a minute, I thought you meant these guys..

[unhappycamper]

2. The same exact thought I had. n/t