According to a tweet published by the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) on November 4, 2021, the French company Zodiac Milpro delivered four new Rigid Inflatable Boats (or embarcation de drome opérationnelle, EDO) to the DGA. The EDO will be deployed on board the Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) Mistral-class Tonnerre.
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Rigid Inflatable Boat (Picture source: Zodiac Milpro)
The EDO has a length of 7 m, a width of 2,6 m, and a displacement full load of 3,4 tons. The vessel can reach a maximum speed of 30 knots when she carries five sailors, and 20 knots with a crew of 14 people.
A rigid inflatable boat (RIB), also rigid-hull inflatable boat or rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB), is a lightweight but high-performance and high-capacity unsinkable boat constructed with a rigid hull bottom joined to side-forming air tubes that are inflated with air to high pressure so as to give the sides resilient rigidity along the boat's topsides.
The main characteristics of an EDO are a length of 7m, a width of 2,6 m, and a displacement full load of 3,4 tons. The boat can carry a total of 14 people including a crew and a response team. She can reach a maximum speed of 30 knots.
Tonnerre is an amphibious assault helicopter carrier of the Marine Nationale. She is the eighth vessel to bear the name and the second ship in the Mistral-class amphibious assault ship series.
Tonnerre was laid down in two parts. On 26 August 2003, the aft part was laid down by Arsenal de Brest at Brest and the bow part was laid down 5 May 2004 by Chantiers de Saint-Nazaire at Saint-Nazaire. The vessel was launched on 26 July 2005 and began active service in December 2006.
Mistral-class ships can accommodate up to 450 soldiers, although this can be doubled for short-term deployments. The 2,650-square-metre (28,500 sq ft) vehicle hangar can carry a 40-strong Leclerc tank battalion, or a 13-strong Leclerc tank company, and 46 other vehicles. The 885-square-meter (9,530 sq ft) well deck can accommodate four landing craft.
