Vanguard Magazine

28 APRIL/MAY 2018 www.vanguardcanada.com Replace bridge systems The bridge systems that the Canadian Army currently owns have reached the point where they need replacing. Some have become obsolete and require imme- diate action by renewing with updated or different systems to meet the demands of heavier modern battle tanks. The need for replacing the existing systems was high- lighted in the Defence Acquisition Guide (DAG) of 2016 under the program of Bridge and Gap Crossing Modernization. The DAG 2016 articulated the need for a suite of light, medium and heavy bridging capabilities for the Canadian Army with a need to supply Infantry Foot Bridges, Light Support Bridges, Medium Support Bridges, Heavy Support Bridges, Heavy Assault Bridges, Line of Communi- cation Bridges, Floating Bridges and Rafts. A European solution One company that is looking at tender- ing for this program is General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) – Ger- many, a European based business unit un- der the Combat Systems group of General Dynamics Corporation. "We're the only company within the GD Corporation that has mobile bridg- ing," said Frank Schweitzer, Senior Man- ager, International Business & Services for Bridge Systems Overseas of GDELS-Ger- many GmbH. "We have been doing this since the 1950s." The company has provided combat support equipment for bridging to many countries around the world, with their pri- mary customers coming from the NATO countries. "Canada is a longtime customer since the 1980s and has used our bridging equip- ment since that time," Schweitzer added. The focus now, according to Schweitzer, is on providing the latest bridge systems to defenCe spotlight Bridge SyStemS M3 – Amphibious Bridge & Ferry System IRB – Improved Ribbon Bridge REBS – Rapidly Emplaced Bridge System MTB – Medium Trackway Bridge SLTB – Super Light Trackway Bridge QBB – Quad Bike Bridge IAB – Infantry Assault Bridge AVLB BEAVER max. Payload MLC 85(T) / 132(W) MLC 80(T) / 96(W) MLC 50 MLC 40 171 kg / soldier MLC 80+ aSSemBly time ~ 10 min. for a 100 m bridge (8 M3 ~ 30 min. for a 100 m bridge (15 bays) ~ 5 min. (REBS) ~ 2 min. (REB-ABLK) 5 min. with 4 soldiers ~ 5 min. ~ 5 min. ~ 6 min. for a 30 m bridge ~ 2 min. interoPeraBility FSB & SRB & IRB (with a coupling device) FSB & SRB M3 with a coupling device Available in truck or armoured vehicle launched variant Adaptable to various light tactical and armoured vehicles. gdelS-germany Bridge SyStemS

• Cover