Modular Airborne FireFighting System

Modular Airborne FireFighting System (MAFFS) is a self-contained unit used for aerial firefighting that can be loaded onto a C-130 Hercules, a military cargo transport, which then allows the aircraft to be used as an air tanker against wildfires. This allows the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to utilize military aircraft from the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve to serve as an emergency backup resource to the civilian air tanker fleet.

History

The MAFFS program was developed in the early 1970s as a joint effort between the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) in response to a series of devastating wildfires in Southern California. The system's initial concept was to provide surge capacity when commercial air tankers were not enough to combat wildfires.

Design and Operation

MAFFS is a portable fire retardant delivery system that can be inserted into the cargo bay of a C-130 aircraft. The system consists of five retardant tanks, a control panel, a compressed air tank, and a nozzle through which the retardant is expelled. The retardant, a mixture of water and chemicals, is dropped from the aircraft over the fire area. The system can discharge its 3,000-gallon load in less than five seconds and can be refilled in less than 12 minutes.

MAFFS II

In 2007, the MAFFS II system was introduced. It has a capacity of up to 3,400 gallons, a significant increase from the original MAFFS. The MAFFS II system also includes improvements such as the ability to vary the coverage level of the retardant, and an on-board air compressor, which eliminates the need for ground support equipment.

Current Use

Today, there are eight MAFFS units in service, assigned to four military units: the 146th Airlift Wing, the 152nd Airlift Wing, the 153rd Airlift Wing and the 302nd Airlift Wing. These units are part of the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve. They provide a valuable surge capacity that can be activated when additional resources are needed to fight wildfires.

See Also

• Aerial firefighting
• C-130 Hercules
• U.S. Forest Service
• Wildfire suppression

‎