The French army has deployed three Buffalo and two Souvim route-opening systems to help counter the threat of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Afghanistan.
These vehicles will be operated in support of all French detachments in Afghanistan, and mainly OMLT, BATFRA (French battalion) or GTIA Kapisa, under the responsibility of combat engineer detachment commanders.
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Their mission consists in opening road itineraries used by French troops in theatre. These detachments, operating in close coordination with mine disposal specialists belonging to the NEDEX explosive ordnance disposal teams that accompany the convoys.
The two types of vehicle work together as a team. Once improvised explosive ordnance is detected and marked by a Souvim, the Buffalo uses its articulated arm to uncover the device, allowing the NEDEX team to neutralise under the most favourable safety conditions.
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