Rosenbauer Panther

Last updated
Rosenbauer Panther
Rosenbauer PANTHER 6x6.jpg
Overview
Type Airport Crash Tender
Manufacturer Rosenbauer
Production1991
Assembly Europe, North America and Asia
Designer Kristian Fenzl
Body and chassis
Platform Rosenbauer Simba
Powertrain
Engine Volvo D16
Power output700hp, 1400hp
Transmission 6-speed, 7-speed
Hybrid drivetrain 4x4, 6x6, 8x8
Dimensions
Length
  • 10,500 mm 4x4
  • 11,460 mm 6x6s
  • 11,710 mm 6x6
  • 11,785 mm 6x6 electric
  • 12,300 mm 8x8
Width
  • 3,000 mm 4x4, 6x6, 8x8
  • 2,500 mm 6x6s
  • 2,997.2 mm 6x6 electric
Height
  • 3,650 mm 4x4, 6x6s
  • 3,657.6mm 6x6 electric
  • 3,750 mm 6x6
  • 4,000 mm 8x8
Curb weight
  • 26,000 kg 4x4
  • 33,000 kg 6x6s
  • 39,000 kg 6x6
  • 40,505 kg 6x6 electric
  • 52,000 kg 8x8c
Chronology
Predecessor Rosenbauer Simba

Rosenbauer Panther is a model of airport crash tender produced by Austrian manufacturer Rosenbauer.

Contents

It exists in 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 versions, with a 6x6 electric version in development. The 8x8 version accommodates 14,500 litres (3,830 gallons) of fire extinguishing agents and a maximum speed of 140 km/h (87 mph), with an operating weight of 40 tons. [1]

History

The Panther was released in 1991 and was the second airport crash tender vehicle from the manufacturer as a successor of the Rosenbauer Simba, which was discontinued in 1996. Panther was showcased at the Hanover show. The new vehicle was designed by Kristian Fenzl based on a MAN 36.1000 VFAEG chassis, powered by a MAN 22 litre V12 charge-cooled diesel engine producing 735kW (990hp) at 2,300rpm. Weighing at 36 tons, the vehicle was capable of accelerating from 0-80 km/h in 25 seconds with a top speed of 140 km/h, also having an automatic gearbox and a gradability of 60%.


Generations

First generation (1994–2004) The first-generation Rosenbauer Panther was introduced in 1994. It featured a box-shaped cab design with a flat two-piece windshield, angular bodywork, and a mechanically simpler electrical system. Early models used halogen lighting and conventional mirror assemblies. This generation established the basic layout that would define later Panther models.

Second generation (2005–2014) The second-generation Panther entered production in 2005. It introduced a redesigned curved windshield, a more rounded cab profile, and improved aerodynamics. The vehicle incorporated upgraded pump systems and electronics while retaining the overall proportions of the first generation. This version remained in production for nearly a decade and was widely adopted by international airports and military air bases.

Third generation (2015–2020) Rosenbauer launched the third-generation Panther in 2015. This version featured an updated cab with more angular styling, fully integrated LED lighting, revised mirror housings, and a more modern dashboard layout. Mechanical improvements included upgraded engines, enhanced pump performance, and improved suspension options. The third generation is visually identified by its aggressive front fascia and more streamlined body panels.

Fourth generation (2021–present) The fourth-generation Panther was unveiled in 2021. It introduced a complete redesign of the cab with expanded visibility, thin LED light bars, and a modular electronics platform. This generation supports hybrid and alternative-powertrain configurations and includes improved safety systems such as advanced driver-assistance features. It is currently the newest iteration of the Panther family.


The Panther can carry 10,000-14,000 litres of water, 1,000-2,000 litres of foaming agent and up to 500 kg of powder. The vehicle usually has an 8x8 drivetrain, but smaller vehicles with 4x4 and 6x6 drivetrain were also manufactured. These became available in May 1992. [2]

Models

Capacity

ModelsWater (ltr)Foam (ltr)Powder (kg)Output (l/min)
Panther 4x46,2007502507,000
Panther 6x6s9,1001,2002506,500
Panther 6x611,4001,4002509,000
Panther 6x6 electric12,0001438.52507949.4
Panther 8x812,500750x25009,000 [3]

Operators


The Rosenbauer Panther appears in the 2011 film Transformers: Dark of the Moon, where the character Sentinel Prime transforms into a 2001 Panther 6×6 airport crash tender. The truck used for filming had a unique red-and-black color scheme not typically used for U.S. airport ARFF vehicles. [42]

See also

References

Notes

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  5. "Verification". tochka.by. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
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  25. Journal, Popular (2023-02-24). "လေယာဥ်မတော်တဆမှု အခြေအနေကြုံပါက အသင့်ရှိနေစေရန် ဇာတ်တိုက်လေ့ကျင့်မှု မန္တလေးတွင် ပြုလုပ်". Popular. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
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