The United Kingdom and Germany have jointly signed a €450 million contract with General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) to procure the latest generation of M3 amphibious bridging and ferry systems. The deal was facilitated through the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR).
The “Wide Wet Gap Crossing Programme” will replace equipment first introduced in the late 1990s and enhance NATO’s ability to move heavy vehicles across rivers and other obstacles in both combat and disaster relief operations.
The upgraded systems, based on the latest M3S model developed for Sweden, offer improved reliability, enhanced safety, and a modern human-machine interface. They will also be fully compatible with existing NATO bridging systems, including SRB, FSB, and IRB pontoon bridge families.
According to GDELS, the M3 remains the fastest amphibious bridging system in NATO service, capable of transporting main battle tanks and other heavy vehicles across wide rivers within minutes. The new configuration provides greater flexibility, reduces lifecycle costs, and allows full interchangeability between UK and German fleets.
Dr. Thomas Kauffmann, Vice President and Chief Sales Officer of GDELS, stated, “The new M3 will deliver cutting-edge floating-bridge capabilities, enabling NATO vehicles to maneuver without limitations for both Germany and the UK.”
Dr. Christian Kauth, Vice President and Managing Director of GDELS Bridge Systems, added that production at the company’s Kaiserslautern site is being expanded to meet rising demand. “We are proud to continue manufacturing the M3 from Kaiserslautern, where we are investing heavily in new production capabilities,” he said.
The M3 system has been extensively used across NATO for decades and can operate in diverse conditions, from arctic to tropical environments.
