The French army takes delivery of its first two mobile bridge SPRAT from the Company CNIM 2303123

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Defense News - France

 
 
Friday, March 23, 2012, 09:51 AM
 
The French army takes delivery of its first two mobile bridge SPRAT from the Company CNIM.

The French army receives in March its first two new launcher bridges, called SPRAT "Système de Pose RApide de Travures" (Quick deployment of bridge elements). The program dates from the end 90s, and the DGA (French Army procurement agency) was then entrusted the implementation of the program to the French company CNIM.

     
The French army receives in March its first two new launcher bridges, called SPRAT "Système de Pose RApide de Travures" (Quick deployment of bridge elements). The program dates from the end 90s, and the DGA (French Army procurement agency) was then entrusted the implementation of the program to the French company CNIM.
SPRAT "Système de Pose RApide de Travures" (Quick deployment of bridge elements)
     
Initially 18 SPRAT bridgelayers were ordered for the French Army, however the order has been cut back to 10 units. These will be delivered until 2013.

The SPRAT or MLC 80 is based on a 10x10 high mobility truck chassis which is intended to deploy mobile bridge in combat zone, in a very short time, allowing to cross a ditch or a water obstacle to a maximum width of 24 m to all vehicles in sevice with the French army, including the main battle tank Leclerc.

The SPRAT carries two 14.3 m long MLC-70 class bridges on on top of the other. Combined length is 26 m and it covers a gap of 24 m. Alternatively it can launch two short bridges of 14 m individually, depending on the obstacle width.

In the configuration 14 meters (one bridge element), the mobile bridge can support 120 tons (two main battle tanks Leclerc). In the configuration 26 meters (two bridge elements ) the bridge can support 70 tons (One main battle tank Leclerc and one light armored vehicle). Currently, the SPRAT is the strongest assault bridge in the world.

     
Video SPRAT "Système de Pose RApide de Travures"