Colet SVD

Colet SVD (COLET Special Vehicle Design) is an American manufacturer of aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicles based in Newark, California. Founded in 1988 by Ralph Colet, the company grew out of its founder's decades of experience designing advanced vehicles for various industries in the 1960s and 1970s. Colet SVD specializes in custom-built rescue and firefighting trucks that emphasize lightweight construction, durability, and high performance. Its vehicles are distinguished by a patented stainless steel monocoque chassis and an active reactive suspension system, which the company says make its trucks 20–40% lighter than competitors, improving speed, safety, and maintainability. The cabs of most Colet vehicles resemble fighter-jet cockpits, a signature design feature. The product line includes the K/15 Jaguar, K/R40 Jaguar, K/15 ATTCC, K/30 Jaguar, K/40E Jaguar, and the 2000 series, with water capacities ranging from 1,500 to 5,000 US gallons and various firefighting delivery systems such as the Powerflow II and L/R Gator booms. After Ralph Colet's death in 2017, the company continued under his legacy, stating it was "revitalized and reinvented" to carry on as a leader in ARFF vehicle safety and performance. Colet SVD remains a privately held company serving fire departments and aviation rescue services, primarily in the United States and internationally.

Colet SVD was founded in 1988 by Ralph Colet as a brand to bring advanced design, fabrication, and manufacturing experience to the rescue and firefighting vehicle industry. Ralph Colet had been designing and building advanced vehicles for various industries throughout the 1960s and 1970s, with many designs licensed to major companies worldwide. In the 1980s, he saw an opportunity to apply his designs to the public sector to help save lives, leading to the creation of COLET SVD. The company is based in Newark, California, and manufactures aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) vehicles. Its first major model, the COLET K/15 Jaguar, was developed and introduced around 1996. It was a two-axle vehicle with an 850-hp engine (later 600 hp) that could accelerate from 0 to 80 km/h in under 18 seconds, carrying up to 1,500 US gallons (about 5,700 liters) of water. It used the COLET Powerflow II, an HRET arm that could lower the monitor to the ground, position it directly in front of the operator, or raise it to about 12 meters. Around 1999, the K/R40 Jaguar was introduced, featuring three engines totaling 1,622 PS (1,600 HP), a five-axle chassis with four driven and three steerable axles, and a water capacity of 15,200 liters (4,000 US gallons), plus foam and powder. Its unit price was around US$3.5 million. Later, the K/15 ATTCC and K/30 models were added, both with the distinctive cab design. The K/15 ATTCC Jaguar (Air Transportable Trans Continental Capability) had two axles, a water capacity of 6,000 liters (1,560 gallons), and was air-transportable in a Lockheed C-130. It used the L/R Gator Powerflow Boom. The K/30 Jaguar followed the K/15 ATTCC design but had three axles and a water capacity of 3,000 US gallons, also air-transportable in a C-130. Around 2010, the K/40E Jaguar was introduced, a four-axle vehicle with up to 15,200 liters of water capacity and a more conventional appearance, equipped with both the L/R Gator Powerflow Boom and a second front-mounted monitor. Also around 2010, the 2000 series was added, offering versions from the K/15-2000E (2 axles, 1,500 US gallons) up to a five-axle model with 4,000–5,000 US gallons. In 2017, founder Ralph Colet passed away, leaving a legacy of advanced engineering products and designs. The company stated it continues in his memory, "revitalized and reinvented," with the task of carrying on the COLET SVD legacy as the leader in ARFF vehicle safety and performance. Today, Colet SVD continues to improve its products and services, offering custom vehicles to customers.

• 2017

  Founder Ralph Colet passed away; company continues under his legacy.

• 2010

  K/40E Jaguar and 2000 series introduced.

• 1999

  K/R40 Jaguar introduced.

• 1996

  First ARFF vehicle, the COLET K/15 Jaguar, developed and introduced.

• 1988

  COLET SVD founded by Ralph Colet.

Premium, custom-engineered ARFF vehicles with advanced lightweight chassis and fighter-jet-inspired design, targeting high-performance rescue and firefighting operations.

• K/15 Jaguar

  Two-axle ARFF vehicle with 850-hp engine (later 600 hp), 1,500 US gal water capacity, 0–80 km/h in under 18 seconds, equipped with COLET Powerflow II.

• K/R40 Jaguar

  Five-axle ARFF vehicle with three engines totaling 1,622 PS, 15,200 L water, 950 L foam, 227 kg powder, unit price around US$3.5 million.

• K/15 ATTCC Jaguar

  Air-transportable two-axle ARFF vehicle with 6,000 L water capacity, equipped with L/R Gator Powerflow Boom.

• K/30 Jaguar

  Three-axle ARFF vehicle with 3,000 US gal water capacity, air-transportable in C-130, with new firefighting boom.

• K/40E Jaguar

  Four-axle ARFF vehicle with up to 15,200 L water capacity, two engines totaling 1,000 hp, 0–80 km/h in under 15 seconds, equipped with L/R Gator boom and front monitor.

• 2000 Series

  Series of ARFF vehicles with 2 to 5 axles and water capacities from 1,500 to 5,000 US gallons, including K/15-2000E, K/20-2000E, K/30-2000E, K/35-2000E, K/40-2000E, K/47-2000E.

1. 1Home | COLET SVDcoletsvd.com
2. 2About | COLET SVDcoletsvd.com
3. 3Colet SVD - Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Colet SVD - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org