In a security environment marked by the increasing need for mobility, resilience, and interoperability, Sweden is reinforcing its ability to maneuver across natural obstacles by expanding its fleet of tactical bridging systems. On April 23, 2025, General Dynamics European Land Systems – Bridge Systems (GDELS-BS) announced the signing of a new contract with the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) for the supply of additional Improved Ribbon Bridge (IRB) systems. This latest order is part of a broader effort initiated in June 2022 to upgrade the Swedish Army’s wet-gap crossing capabilities in line with NATO standards and the evolving operational requirements of European armed forces.
The IRB is a modular floating bridge system designed to provide rapid and reliable wet-gap crossing support in high-tempo operations. It can be configured either as a full-length floating bridge or assembled as a multi-bay ferry, depending on the terrain, the width of the obstacle, and the mission profile. With a Military Load Classification (MLC) of 80 for tracked vehicles and 96 for wheeled platforms, the IRB can support the full spectrum of NATO heavy vehicles, including the Leopard 2A7, M1A2 Abrams, Challenger 2, and future main battle tanks. Its ability to perform in strong currents and under varied climate conditions makes it suitable for both peacetime logistics missions and high-intensity conflict scenarios.