SOF Connect presented today the new state-of-the-art firetruck at Vasil Levski Sofia Airport– the high-tech Rosenbauer Panther. This vehicle is the first addition to the airport’s fleet in nearly 10 years and has modern features that guarantee the highest standards of safety for passengers, crews and aircraft.
The official presentation was attended by Angel Zaburtov – Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications, Philip Kupfer – Commercial Counselor at the Austrian Embassy, Chief Commissioner Alexander Dzhartov – Director of the General Directorate “Fire Safety and Population Protection” to the Minsitry of Interior, Senior Commissioner Vesselin Getov – Director of the Sofia Municipal Directorate “Fire Safety and Population Protection”and Commissioner Rosen Petrov – Deputy Director of the Sofia Municipal Directorate “Fire Safety and Population Protection”, as well as representatives of other institutions.
“This is not just another vehicle; it is a symbol of our commitment to operational excellence, passenger safety, and the continuous modernization of our airport infrastructure. It represents an important investment in our future, ensuring that our firefighting teams have the best tools available to protect the airport, its passengers, and the entire aviation community.”, said Jesus Caballero, CEO of SOF Connect.
“This investment is a continuation of the high standards we follow in aviation security,” Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications Angel Zaburtov said during the ceremony. “The vehicle is the newest generation in specialized equipment. It has modern firefighting and rescue equipment that allows a significant reduction in response time and meets the most stringent environmental requirements,” he added
The Rosenbauer Panther fire truck is the latest generation, manufactured in 2025 and has the following technological advantages:
- Equipped with modern fire and rescue equipment, including a combined cutting and drilling tool with electric power – significantly reduces response time compared to standard rescue tools that use hoses and hydraulic oil for propulsion.
The reduced overall weight makes it more ergonomic and easy to use.
- Pump-and-Roll functionality – allows the supply of fire extinguishing agents on the move at speeds above 80 km/h.
- Powerful engine – 750 hp, covering the strict Euro 6 environmental standards, with acceleration from 0 to 80 km/h in under 30 seconds.
- Light mast – equipped with eight 56-watt LED projectors, with the ability to concentrate or disperse the light beam depending on the needs of the specific situation.
- Durable construction – with a sturdy chassis and large tires, the vehicle works equally well on asphalt and rough terrain.
- Improved crew protection – integrated water mist system to protect against aviation fuels with temperatures exceeding 1000°C.
- More ergonomic design – equipped with modern, electrically powered rescue tools, ensuring faster and more effective responses to incidents.
To effectively operate this advanced fire truck, 24 of the airport firefighters have undergone extensive training and are certified to operate the Rosenbauer Panther. Their experience and readiness are crucial to maintaining the highest level of emergency response readiness at the airport.
Vasil Levski Sofia Airport operates under Category 8 for ARFF (Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting) services, which allows ensuring the safety of aircraft up to 61 meters in length. With the addition of the Rosenbauer Panther, the fire and rescue service significantly increases its capacity – the total amount of water for extinguishing fires at the airport increases from 32,000 to 44,500 liters, and the foam agent – from 3,600 to 5,100 liters.
This investment is part of SOF Connect’s long-term strategy for modernization and increasing the safety of the airport, demonstrating the operator’s commitment to passenger safety and the aviation airport ecosystem.
Photos from the event can be downloaded from the following link https://tinyurl.com/5xfrhw76 and a video of the new fire truck can be viewedHERE