CARRIER AIRCRAFT FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM Program Overview

Joint Department of Defense (DoD) efforts thus far have proven unsuccessful in identifying an acceptable alternate to Halon 121 1, the streaming agent used in portable fire extinguishers and ground-based fire rescue vehicles. The Naval Air System Command has initiated efforts to readdress the overall program objective from strictly a chemical replacement standpoint to a systems requirements standpoint. That is, before continuing the search for an elusive drop-in replacement chemical that meets the considerable performance and material characteristics of Halon 121 1, this program intends to evaluate formally each of the underlying threats currently countered by Halon 121 1, in order to assess properly the “real” requirements that any alternate protection system need meet to be deemed acceptable. In this manner, it is envisioned that agentskystems already labeled as less than acceptable as a drop-in might find favor when evaluated against these ‘‘real” requirements. The NAVAIR-Halon 12 1 1 alternative program is structured into the following assignments: Assignment I - Halon 121 1 Alternative Development Status: Evaluation of past and continuing work being conducted by the DoD to identify an acceptable alternate chemical for Halon 121 1, with particular attention to defined agent acceptability criteria.