CNIM is ahead of the game

Anticipating the addition of the yetto-fly Airbus A400M transport aircraft to the fleets of air forces around the world, CNIM (Stand 1600, French Pavilion) has designed a number of mobile airliftable bridges and crossing systems that could be carried in the new aircraft. Seen in model form in an A400M fuselage, the airliftable modular assault bridge (AMAB) is dimensionally similar to the proposed mechanised floating airliftable bridge (MEFAB), multipurpose airliftable crossing system (MACS) and airliftable crossing equipment system (ACES).

The AMAB comprises two bridge sections able to cross gaps of up to 18m, while the MEFAB is intended for wet crossings and can also be used in raft mode. The MACS can support any kind of crossing operation involving medium forces and can be used in bridge or raft mode.

The longest of these aids to battlefield mobility is 14.40m, the maximum width is 3.60m and the maximum height 3.82m to fit into the A400M’s capacious hold. Not that CNIM would discourage market interest in any of its proposed crossing systems, for not all potential customers have ordered the European large transport aircraft, although it could become a C-130 replacement for many air forces.