RETARDANT AERIAL DELIVERY SYSTEMS
The Coulson Retardant Aerial Delivery System (RADS) is a pioneering, FAA-approved solution that has set the standard in aerial firefighting for over 30 years. Continuously evolving, RADS delivers unmatched performance to meet the industry’s ever-changing demands.
Faster
RADS-XXL has a flow rate of 1,600 gallons per second.
Safer
E-dump rate of 1,600 USG per second, the tank empties in only 2.2 seconds.
Bigger
Carry up to 4,000 gallons more retardant.
Lighter
The RADS-XXL weighs just 3,300 lbs.
Easier
Install or remove the RADS-XXL tank in under a hour.
About RADS
The most powerful weapon in your firefighting arsenal.
The Coulson Retardant Aerial Delivery System (RADS) is the first system of its kind to receive FAA approval. It has remained a well-known powerhouse of a product line for over 30 years as Coulson continuously advances its design and capabilities to meet the latest aerial firefighting operational needs.
Available for the CH-47 Chinook, C-130 Hercules, and 737 FireLiner™ aircraft, RADS is the highest-volume tanking system for both Large AirTankers (LATs) and Helitankers currently operating worldwide.
The RADS’s controller and cockpit interface provides operators with real-time flow rate adjustment technology, resulting in superior drop zone coverage and accuracy.
RADS – L
Coulson’s CH-47 RADS-L tanking system was the first fully integrated tank to receive FAA approval and is currently the largest capacity, lowest weight system of its kind in the industry. Our 3,000 U.S. Gallon RADS-L provides the industry’s highest flow rate due to its field-proven long linear doors – double the area of competing tanks – and can ‘hover fill’ in 90 seconds. Coulson also designed and manufactured the system’s retractable snorkel, another industry leading design, allowing for the quickest return to the fire line. The RADS-L is featured on every Coulson CH-47 aircraft platform.
RADS – XXL
Designed for Large AirTankers (LATs), the RADS-XXL is a powerful retardant delivery system for any aerial firefighting arsenal. This 4,000-gallon tank takes only 5 minutes to fill and is available for installation on most C-130 and B737 aircraft platforms. As the world’s most powerful retardant delivery system, Coulson’s RADS-XXL operates at half the cost and just one-sixth the weight of competing systems. With no need for additional crew or equipment, it offers real-time flow rate monitoring, unmatched drop zone coverage, and significantly reduces pilot workload. Easily installed as a roll-on, roll-off system, the RADS-XXL is onboard every Coulson 737 FireLiner™ and C-130 aircraft platform.
As a testament to their effectiveness, our RADS-XXL systems were selected by the United States Air Force for deployment on their Hercules C-130 aircraft fleet operated by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in California (CALFIRE).
RADS – XXL/2
Engineered exclusively for the Coulson 737 FireLiner™, the RADS-XXL/2 is a twin-tank evolution of our industry-leading RADS-XXL system. With two split tanks totaling 4,000 U.S. gallons, this configuration allows for optimized weight distribution and enhanced mission flexibility without sacrificing capacity or performance. The RADS-XXL/2 maintains the same high-flow precision, rapid refill time, and reduced pilot workload as the original, while being seamlessly integrated into the 737 platform. It’s a powerful, cost-effective solution built for modern aerial firefighting at scale.
