Sweden orders more Improved Ribbon Bridge systems from GDELS-BS

General Dynamics European Land Systems – Bridge Systems (GDELS-BS) has concluded a contract with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) for the supply of more Improved Ribbon Bridges (IRBs), the company announced on 23 April 2025.

GDELS-BS describes the IRB as a modern pontoon bridge system that can be used as a floating bridge or ferry and can carry all vehicles used by NATO armed forces up to the heaviest main battle tanks. IRBs can be coupled with each other using coupling adapters and with the M3 amphibious bridge system to form bridges of almost unlimited length.

Sweden already has a basic set of IRBs and has been expanding its water-crossing capabilities since June 2022 with a double-digit number of amphibious M3s, which can be used to overcome wet obstacles up to 400 m wide (wide wet gaps). The first Swedish M3s were handed over in November 2024.