The Department of Defense (DoD) is managing releases of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from a firefighting agent, aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), used to extinguish fires resulting from military testing and training operations at installations. As part of this effort, SERDP and ESTCP are developing and demonstrating PFAS-free firefighting formulations to replace the use of AFFF. SERDP and ESTCP projects assessed the performance of commercially-available fluorine free foams (F3s), which provided criteria that shaped the updated MILSPEC (MIL-PRF-32725) to assess performance and qualify F3s for use. 

While the timeline to develop, demonstrate and procure new products would typically take decades, SERDP and ESTCP successfully developed and demonstrated several F3s now qualified for military use in the span of a few years. The programs continue to fund F3 improvements that help protect Warfighters, weapon systems, and facilities from the risk of fire in the most extreme environments.