The UK and Germany have signed a significant contract for next-generation army bridging tools in a deal price £200 million, reflecting what the Ministry of Defence describes as a deepening defence partnership between the 2 international locations.
The settlement will ship 36 M3 EVO amphibious bridging automobiles to the British Military, produced by Common Dynamics European Land Methods (GDELS) in Germany, with Germany additionally buying a number of items below the joint contract, in keeping with the Ministry of Defence. The automobiles will permit troops and heavy armour, together with tanks and artillery, to cross rivers or different water obstacles by forming floating bridges or ferries.
The deal builds on the 2024 Trinity Home Settlement and follows current steps to broaden UK-German cooperation, together with the Kensington Settlement signed in July 2025. The tools will substitute the M3 Amphibious Rig, which has been in service for about three many years, with the brand new techniques anticipated to enter service within the early 2030s.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Trade Luke Pollard MP stated within the press launch that “this world-leading new system will higher equip the British Military, serving to our troops to be simpler on the battlefield.” He added that the mission “delivers on the Strategic Defence Evaluation’s ambition to rework our Armed Forces as we face this new period of menace.”
Pollard stated the initiative “fulfils each international locations’ commitments as allies to work collectively to supply sturdy bridging functionality for NATO forces, consistent with the Strategic Defence Evaluation’s NATO-first strategy.”
The M3 EVO might be able to carrying all present and future British Military land techniques and can function as a part of the joint UK-German Amphibious Engineer Battalion primarily based in Minden. The Ministry of Defence stated the system represents a significant modernisation step for the Royal Engineers, bettering mobility and interoperability with NATO companions.
The contract additionally opens export alternatives for UK trade. Germany plans to buy the British-made Common Assist Bridge (GSB), produced by KNDS UK in Stockport, which helps round 300 jobs. The GSB can kind a 46-metre bridge in below 90 minutes, capable of carry NATO’s heaviest tanks, together with the Challenger 3, in keeping with the Ministry of Defence.
Colonel Adam Foley, the British Military’s lead for Navy Engineering Functionality, stated within the press launch that “this is a wonderful instance of shut collaboration between the UK and Germany. This contract award additional strengthens the Trinity Home Settlement and the UK’s NATO commitments delivered by the multinational 130 Pioneer Battalion in cooperation with Germany.”
He added that “army bridging is the bedrock of profitable operations” and the brand new techniques “will allow the UK to take care of operational benefit by permitting commanders the liberty of manoeuvre they require on the battlefield.”
The Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation signed the settlement on behalf of each governments. UK Nationwide Armaments Director Rupert Pearce stated the contract “beautifully demonstrates what trendy warfighting readiness appears like, with British and German forces utilizing top-quality NATO-standard tools, UK trade exporting innovation, and our two nations standing collectively towards the threats we face.”