Germany and the UK have signed a contract worth more than €450m ($520m) with the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR), an intergovernmental agency that manages collaborative defence procurement.
The agreement covers the joint acquisition of the latest M3 amphibious bridging and ferry vehicles from General Dynamics European Land Systems–Bridge Systems (GDELS), based in Kaiserslautern, Germany.
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It forms part of the Wide Wet Gap Crossing Program (WWGC), which seeks to improve performance by increasing flexibility, allowing for quick deployment and adaptable movement over difficult terrain in both military operations and disaster response situations.
Under this programme, new M3 EVO systems will be delivered to replace the British Army’s existing M3 Amphibious Rigs, which have been in service for about 30 years.
The upgraded platforms are designed to transport troops and heavy equipment, such as main battle tanks and artillery units, by forming floating bridges or acting as ferries across major water obstacles.
The latest version of the M3, known as the M3S or Sweden M3, will offer additional features including an improved human-machine interface, enhanced reliability, increased system safety, and optimised support costs throughout its lifecycle.
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By GlobalDataThe new systems will allow for quick deployment and adaptable movement over challenging terrain in both combat operations and disaster response situations.
The UK’s share of the contract amounts to £200m ($262m) for 36 amphibious bridging vehicles.
The new equipment is scheduled to enter service in the early 2030s and will be operated by British Army Royal Engineers as part of a joint UK-German Amphibious Engineer Battalion based in Minden, Germany.
GDELS vice president and chief sales officer Dr. Thomas Kauffmann said: “The new M3 will provide Germany and the UK with much anticipated, state-of-the-art floating-bridge capabilities enabling unhindered manoeuvrability for all NATO vehicles. More than 90% of all NATO amphibious bridging capabilities are supplied by GDELS.”
In addition to the joint M3 procurement, Germany will acquire the UK’s General Support Bridge (GSB) system through a separate but related agreement.
The GSB can be assembled in under 90 minutes and is compatible with all NATO tanks, including the future Challenger 3 for the British Army.
KNDS UK manufactures the GSB at its facility in Stockport.
In September 2025, Bridge Systems, a subsidiary of GDELS, revealed plans to invest more than €20m ($23m) in expanding its production sites in Kaiserslautern and Sembach, Germany.
The expansion includes doubling production capacities for M3, NATO’s standard amphibious bridge at the Kaiserslautern headquarters.
