The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency and General Dynamics European Land Systems–Bridge Systems have signed a contract for the latest generation of the M3 amphibious bridge and ferry system. The agreement makes Norway the third NORDEFCO member to procure the M3 after Sweden and Denmark.
Forsvarsmateriell confirmed that the contract with GDELS is valued at 1.2 billion kroner. The Army is scheduled to receive the new amphibious vehicles from autumn 2026 to 2028.
According to the agency, the wheeled amphibious M3 can operate as a floating bridge or ferry and can drive directly into the water. It has a top road speed of 80 kilometres per hour and is designed to move heavy military equipment quickly across fjords.
“In samarbeid med leverandøren og det svenske forsvaret har vi fått frem denne kontrakten for bro- og fergesystemet til Hæren på rekordtid,” said Gro Jære, director of Forsvarsmateriell. “De amfibiske kjøretøyene kan settes på vann på under 10 minutter av en liten besetning på to-tre soldater, og transportere stridsvogner og tunge kjøretøy over elver og fjorder.”
The system allows several M3 vehicles to be coupled to create heavy ferries or full floating bridges. It is engineered to transport all NATO vehicles, supporting interoperability and aligning with NATO’s wider effort to improve military mobility across Europe.
M3 platforms have been used by NATO countries for decades in a wide range of climates from Arctic regions to desert and tropical environments. “En av de viktigste fordelene med M3-kjøretøyet er felles bruk med andre NATO-styrker. Det gir lettere samarbeid, felles trening og logistikk-koordinering, og bidrar til mer effektive felles operasjoner,” said Jære.
GDELS has specialised in amphibious bridging systems and military mobility solutions for many years. The company has delivered more than 90 percent of NATO’s amphibious bridge requirements.
This Norwegian order further strengthens NATO interoperability, as six member states will now operate the M3. Germany and the United Kingdom also placed orders for a new generation of the system in October through the Joint Organisation for Armaments Cooperation to replace their existing fleets.