At the request of the Integrated Rescue System (IRS), Excalibur Army, in cooperation with the Fire Rescue Service (HZS) and the Czech Army (AČR), provided a temporary bridge over the Bělá River in Česká Ves, located in the Jeseník region, using its AM 70 EX and AM 50 EX bridge systems. The bridge was installed under very challenging conditions over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from September 20 to 22. Thanks to the excellent collaboration between army engineers, firefighters, and Excalibur Army staff, the bridge has been available since Sunday afternoon for the transport of vehicles and IRS personnel, significantly improving the efficiency of rescue operations following the floods. The bridge is not intended for public use and will remain in place as long as it is needed by the IRS.
For the installation of the bridge, two bridge spans were used—one from the AM 70 EX system and the other from the AM 50 EX system. The numbers in the system names indicate the load capacity in tons. The installation was carried out using the AM-70 EX bridge vehicle, an eight-wheel vehicle on a Tatra Force chassis.
Jiří Talanda, the production director of Excalibur Army, stated: "The request from the Integrated Rescue System (IRS) to see if our company could provide a temporary river crossing came to us on Thursday, September 19, and the owner of the CSG group, to which our company belongs, Mr. Michal Strnad, immediately decided that we should provide everything we have available to the IRS. We did not hesitate for a second and started preparing two bridge systems that we had on hand and use for customer presentations. On Friday, it was confirmed that the installation site would be Česká Ves near Jeseník, where the IRS had the greatest need for a bridge over the watercourse."
The installation of the bridge on-site began on Friday, September 20, shortly after 7 p.m., in cooperation with engineers from the Czech Army, members of the Fire Rescue Service (HZS), and a team from Excalibur Army. The location was exceptionally complex, pushing the limits of technical capabilities due to the width of the riverbed, the height difference between the two banks, limited space for maneuvering, and damage to the riverbed, into which supports had to be embedded. The first bridge span was placed on Friday after 11 p.m. Unfortunately, it became clear that the bank's conditions did not allow for the completion of the structure. Therefore, the bridge span was lifted out of the riverbed and repositioned at a more suitable location, which had been modified by engineers. The bridge was handed over for use by the Integrated Rescue System (IRS) on Sunday, September 22, at 1 p.m.
Jiří Talanda stated: “I want to thank the Fire Rescue Service (HZS), the Police of the Czech Republic (PČR), and the Czech Army (AČR) for their excellent cooperation. Their personnel handled terrain reconnaissance, road closures, provided facilities for our team, and of course, assisted in laying the bridge. I also want to thank the team from Excalibur Army who worked on the project. Since Thursday, we haven’t stopped, and over the weekend, we barely got a few hours of sleep. But the result is worth it, and it brings us immense joy.”
Petr Mudra, the mayor of Česká Ves, stated: “I have immense respect for the work that the Excalibur Army team, along with the firefighters and soldiers, put into building the bridge. The bridge plays a crucial role in addressing the aftermath of the floods in our municipality, and not only that: today, thanks to the bridge, HZS equipment was able to respond to a fire that broke out at one of the properties located near the Bělá River.”
Excalibur Army's bridge systems are one of their key products: dozens of units have been delivered to customers in Pakistan and Vietnam.
The vehicle carrying the bridge span arrives at the site and must be positioned correctly relative to both banks
The bridge is extended over the obstacle
AM70EX
The additional bridge section is attached
The second part of the bridge is laid down
The final placement of the bridge is completed
How does the bridge installation process work
The steps of bridge installation are as follows:
The bridge is intended solely for the Integrated Rescue System (IRS) units and cannot be used by the public due to specific usage rules: Speed limits, restrictions on braking and acceleration while crossing the bridge apply, and sudden changes in direction are not allowed. Pedestrians are permitted to walk only in the central section of the bridge deck.
About Excalibur Army
Excalibur Army was founded in 1995, initially focusing on the trade of surplus military equipment, including uniforms, provisions, and medical supplies. By 2000, the company expanded its activities to include the sale of spare parts for wheeled and tracked military vehicles, weapons, ammunition, and other military materials. In 2005, Excalibur Army opened a facility in Přelouč (on the site of the former VOP Přelouč), where significant investments were made over the next two years to repair and reconstruct the premises. Subsequently, the company's headquarters, part of its administration, and a repair workshop and paint shop were relocated to Přelouč. The company began specializing in the repair, renovation, and modernization of main battle tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and artillery systems, such as rocket launchers and howitzers, while also supplying a range of spare parts, including engines. Over time, Excalibur Army established strategic partnerships with leading international manufacturers in the field of land defense systems and began offering advanced defense systems of its own design and production. In 2012, the company leased part of the state-owned VOP Šternberk and in 2013, after winning a competition by offering the highest bid, it purchased the entire Šternberk manufacturing plant, which has a more than 60-year tradition in the repair and production of military equipment and spare parts. Today, Excalibur Army offers a wide range of military vehicles, weapon systems, and ammunition, providing comprehensive services including modernization. In 2014, the company became part of the Czechoslovak Group holding. In early 2016, the civilian divisions of the company were spun off into separate firms, and from that point onward, Excalibur Army has been fully focused on military technology contracts. The company's vision is to become a globally successful manufacturer and supplier of specialized ground equipment for security and rescue forces, offering sales, service, refurbishment, and modernization of proven equipment types, as well as new types of equipment developed in-house.
Share