Norway has received its first M3 amphibious bridge and ferry system from General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS), less than a year after signing a Nkr1.2bn ($129m) procurement contract.
The initial vehicle was delivered to the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA) under an agreement signed with GDELS–Bridge Systems in November last year.
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Norway is the sixth Nato member and the third Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO) country to acquire the M3, following Sweden and Denmark.
The system is designed to transport vehicles across water obstacles either as a ferry or by joining multiple units to form a floating bridge.
GDELS said it can carry Nato vehicles, including heavy trucks, armoured combat vehicles and main battle tanks.
On roads, the M3 can reach speeds of up to 80km/h. It uses four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering for movement over land, while two rotatable water pump jets provide propulsion in water.
GDELS said a 100m bridge could be deployed in less than 10 minutes.
The system can also be configured as ferries of different sizes, while bridge length is not limited by a fixed configuration.
In ferry mode, the M3 does not require shore-guy anchorage for loading and unloading, according to the company.
The equipment is also designed to operate alongside SRB, FSB and IRB pontoon bridge systems used by Nato forces.
“The amphibious rig is the fastest bridging and ferrying asset within the Alliance. It can be deployed as a floating bridge or as a ferry to transport all types of vehicles up to the heaviest main battle tanks across water obstacles, including so-called wide wet gaps,” GDELS stated.
The delivery adds to a series of European M3 procurements. In October 2025, Germany and the UK signed a contract worth more than €450m with the Organisation for Joint Armament Co-operation (OCCAR) for a joint purchase of M3 vehicles.
