The French engineering company, CNIM is delivering to the French Army (Armée de Terre) the four of the upgraded PFM Tactical Floating Bridge in April. The PFM modules, which in service since the mid-1980s with the French Army, needed a complete overhaul, so the French Army and CNIM decided to adapt them to the new requirements, derived from the lessons learned of the latest missions. The overhaul was also needed to extend the system operational life and to ensure maximum reliability in case of disaster relief operations on the national territory, such as in case of a major flood.
The Upgraded PFM F2 Tactical Floating Bridge is a solution dedicated to continuous or discontinuous crossing of wet gaps for MLC 70T/80W class vehicles (accotding to STANAG 2021 standarts).Offering two possible configurations – bridge mode and ferry mode, the PFM gives a clear tactical advantage: it can be deployed easily, quickly and with minimal manpower. What is more, it does not require any auxiliary boats and is well-known for its reliability in the field. The PFM’s implementation performance remains unmatched.
Each PFM module was powered by two Yamaha 75 hp outboard motors; these are being replaced with more powerful 90 hp motors. To reduce manpower CNIM developed a wireless control system that allows a single operator to control both motors allowing to orient each of them and to trim the throttle independently. Moreover the PFM F2 is receiving new movers: old Renault TRM 1000 trucks are being replaced by new Scania P410 6×6 tractor, around 50% of them provided with an armoured cab to ensure crew protection when the system is deployed downrange.
