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World
Naval Forces News - France |
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| DGA
(French Procurement Agency) delivers first L-CAT/EDA-R landing catamaran
to French Navy |
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On
November 24, 2011 the Direction Générale de l'Armement
(DGA - French Procurement Agency) has taken delivery of the first fast
amphibious landing craft (dubbed EDA-R for "engin de débarquement
amphibie rapide"). The EDA-R offers five times the landing capacity
of existing landing craft currently in service with the French Navy.
The EDA-R will be used by the Marine Nationale's Mistral class LHDs.
Signed in June 2009 as part of an economy stimulus plan, the contract
includes the acquisition of 4 EDA-R and their operational maintenance
until mid-2015. The other three fast amphibious landing craft will be
delivered by mid-2012. |
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CNIM's L-CAT,
named EDA-R in French Navy service
(picture: CNIM)
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EDA-R
(picture:
French Navy) |
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The L-CAT
variable draft system explained
(picture: CNIM)
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Designed to land troops
and military vehicles from an over-the-horizon amphibious vessel (30 nautical
miles/55 km), the EDA-R can be used for humanitarian operations in areas
lacking port infrastructures. With a length of 30 meters and a width of
12 meters, the EDA-R has a payload of 80 tons with a speed of 18 knots
fully loaded and 30 knots when empty. Its doors at the front and rear
simplify the loading and unloading of vehicles. |
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Artist impression
of an EDA-R loaded with VAB armored vehicles
(picture: French Navy)
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The hull is built in
Saint Malo by the SOCARENAM shipyard , subcontractor of CNIM (the prime
contractor). The craft is then finalized at Boulogne-sur-Mer. The workload
generated by the construction of four landing craft is about 400 000 hours
and accounts for over one hundred jobs for 3 years. In addition to CNIM
and SOCARENAM, many French companies and SMEs are involved in the EDA-R
program. |
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{youtube}v4C6oXN9HqA{/youtube}
L-CAT unofficial
video
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