General Dynamics will supply the German army with new Schwimmschnellbrücke 2 mobile floating bridges.
The Hartpunkt reported that the new development will replace the currently used Amphibie M3 amphibious bridge and ferry systems.
The contract was signed as part of the binational project “Wide Wet Gap Crossing” (WWGC), which is being implemented jointly with the United Kingdom under the auspices of the European Arms Agency OCCAR.
According to official data, the Schwimmschnellbrücke 2 is a highly mobile wheeled vehicle that can deploy a bridge in minutes.
Its purpose is to help combat units quickly overcome water obstacles.
The system can be connected into a floating bridge or used as a ferry, allowing even the most advanced battle tanks to cross wide bodies of water.
This capability significantly reduces the time required to set up temporary crossings.
The main contract provides for funding of approximately €53 million, while an additional €331 million is available for option purchases. Additional agreements cover approximately EUR 104 million.
All of these amounts relate to the German share of the contract, which was approved by the Bundestag Budget Committee.
In addition, the new German and British bridge fleets are fully compatible with the bridge systems of other users and the pontoon bridge family. This increases the level of interaction between units in joint missions.
It is possible that decommissioned M3 Amphibious Rig pontoon bridges will be transferred to Ukraine.
In 2023, the Netherlands handed over its M3 Amphibious Rig pontoon crossings to Ukraine. The equipment was developed by the German company Eisenwerke Kaiserslautern.
