Raytheon Technologies Corp. is retrofitting Collins Aerospace-made oxygen-filling trucks for deployment to India, where COVID-19 cases are surging and medical oxygen is in dangerously short supply.
The aerospace and defense technology manufacturer said the trucks — which are normally used to fill military aircraft and can transport approximately 270,000 liters of oxygen — are expected to be delivered to the Indian Red Cross Society in New Delhi today. The vehicles will be used to feed hospital oxygen supply lines and to fill portable oxygen cylinders, company officials said.
“We have employees, customers and suppliers throughout India who need assistance, and this is just one immediate way we can help make a meaningful difference in this crisis,” said Troy Brunk, who leads the interiors strategic business unit of Collins Aerospace.
Raytheon Technologies said the trucks are being flown from Lubeck, Germany, to India aboard Indian Air Force military cargo aircraft.
India has seen a dramatic spike in COVID-19 cases since March, leading to shortages of coronavirus vaccines, hospital beds, ventilators, oxygen tanks and other medical equipment. The country lacks much of the infrastructure needed to transport and store liquid medical oxygen, such as cryogenic tankers.
