On 5 March 2024 the Swedish Defence Procurement Agency (Försvarets Materielverk – FMV) ordered the delivery of additional M3 amphibious bridge and ferry systems from General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS), the company announced on 14 March.
This is the third batch of M3 bridging systems ordered for the Swedish Army.
According to the FMV website, the latest contract is for nine systems and represents the triggering of an option worth SEK 400 million (EUR 35.6 million) from a previous order. In all, according to the FMV, the Swedish Army will receive 25 M3 bridging systems between 2025 and 2027.
“It is fantastically positive that we were able to redeem this option,” the FMV quoted its head of army programmes, Jonas Lotsne, as saying. “This means that the army’s combat units are supplied with a rapidly built [bridging] system, to more than one brigade, much sooner than we thought possible.
“At the same time, we become GDELS’ largest customer in the period and receive increased priority in production,” Lotsne added.
“The M3 amphibious bridge and ferry system is the fastest available means for wet gap crossing within NATO,” GDELS stated in a press release. “It can be used as a floating bridge or ferry to carry even the heaviest main battle tanks to negotiate wide wet gaps. The all-terrain M3 is ready for use within minutes – a vital factor on today’s transparent battlefield. The system has proven itself in use under a wide range of climatic and topographical conditions.”
Whether used as bridge or as a ferry, the M3 provides a loading capacity of up to Military Load Classification 85 (tracked)/132 (wheeled) and offers interoperability with other bridging solutions such as the Standard Ribbon Bridge/Floating Support Bridge and Improved Ribbon Bridge.
