Bridge Systems, a subsidiary of General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS), plans to invest more than €20m ($23m) in expanding its production sites in Kaiserslautern and Sembach, Germany.
This expansion is part of the “24/500” strategy, unveiled by GDELS-Germany managing director Dr. Thomas Kauffmann at the recently held Handelsblatt conference “Economic Factor Defense”.
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The investment is set to be made in 2026 and will create approximately 400 jobs by 2029 in the Rhineland-Palatinate region.
Significant projects under the investment initiative include converting production hall K16 at the Opel site in Kaiserslautern into a facility dedicated for floating bridges, spanning more than 10,000m².
Additionally, production capacities for M3, NATO’s standard amphibious bridge, will be doubled at the Kaiserslautern headquarters.
The M3 system, which is designed to ferry tanks and other vehicles across bodies of water, had recently secured orders from Denmark, Sweden, and Latvia.
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By GlobalDataIn 2024, Sweden’s Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) had placed order for nine more M3s.
Further procurement decisions are anticipated from Germany, the UK, Spain, and Norway.
GDELS–Bridge Systems and GDELS–Germany managing director Dr Christian Kauth said: “We are clearly committed to the region and are investing specifically in infrastructure, production capacities, and the creation of long-term, qualified jobs. By involving the local and regional supplier industry and service providers, we generate high added value for Rhineland- Palatinate.”
This year, the company has invested over €10m in its Rhineland-Palatinate sites, alongside constructing two new production facilities in southern Germany.
GDELS–Bridge Systems has maintained a presence at its Barbarossastrasse site in Kaiserslautern since 1864 and has operated a second facility in Sembach since the early 1990s.
Since 2008, the company has been producing and maintaining protected wheeled vehicles for Germany’s military engagements.
In February 2025, GDELS secured a contract with the German Army to provide up to 256 Piranha 5 vehicles. Deliveries for these vehicles are slated to commence in 2026.
