In Denmark, the Defense Ministry’s Materiel and Procurement Administration (FMI) has signed a contract with General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) for the provision of amphibious bridges and M3 ferries based in Germany, an acquisition that results from the second part of the 2024-2032 Defense Agreement.
The new acquisition ensures to the heavy Brigade and the Combat Battalions the ability to attack and overcome water obstacles. Thanks to the new capabilities provided by the M3 amphibious bridges, it will be possible for the Royal Danish Army to cross water obstacles up to 100 meters and also the heaviest vehicles of the Brigade, such as tanks and other heavy vehicles, can advance quickly and effectively.
The amphibious bridge and M3 ferry system chosen by Copenhagen’s defense is a widely proven system, used by most of the countries bordering Denmark (including Sweden and Germany), which represents a clear advantage at operational, logistic, and training level.
The contract was signed by FMI with GDELS in record time; in Europe there is a strong demand for this mobility capability; therefore, the first systems will not be delivered to the Danish Armed Forces until 2028.
The new Danish equipment will be fully interoperable with M3 systems of other NATO users and, through a mating adapter, also with the SRB/FSB/IRB floating bridge family.
The acquisition of the M3 amphibious bridges and ferries is funded by Danish defense with acceleration fund funds, which allowed to quickly upgrade and strengthen the fighting capability of Copenhagen’s Armed Forces after years of underfunding.
Characteristics of the amphibious bridge and M3 ferry
The GDELS M3 amphibious bridge and ferry system consists of several independent and self-propelled spans equipped with motors. The individual spans can be connected to each other up to the desired length, based on the needs for the crossing or forcing of waterways.
The M3 system is the fastest method available for the crossing of water obstacles among NATO and can be used as a floating bridge or as a ferry for tanks and heavy vehicles.
The M3 has proven to be efficient in various weather and environmental conditions, and is ready for use in a few minutes.
The ferry function of the individual bridge spans can essentially be used to allow front line units to quickly overcome a water obstacle. In this way, the speed in solving tasks is maintained and any obstacle, in the form of missing or unsafe bridge infrastructures, no longer constitutes as a hindrance to the Brigade’s maneuver in its entirety or of a single unit.
The contract drawn up by FMI provides for the possibility of acquiring additional bridges in the future.
Along with the M3 amphibious bridges, the Danish defense has ordered GDELS the supply of the initial logistics (spare parts), training materials/simulators and documentation, and the initial training of personnel; the ordered bridge material will be completed with equipment and systems directly supplied by the Danish defense.
Source: Forsvarsministeriets Materiel- og Indkøbsstyrelse (FMI)
