At next week’s IDEX Exhibition WFEL will showcase its DSB Dry Support Bridge, the world’s most technically advanced, rapidly deployable military bridge of its type. WFEL’s rapidly deployable bridging systems provide temporary infrastructure and have the potential to be used both in combat situations and natural disasters, greatly enhancing an Army’s capability to quickly manoeuvre across physical terrain as complex as rivers, ravines and man-made gaps. Combined with greater involvement of the military in support of natural disasters which have occurred in recent times, illustrates the strategic importance of the dual-role capabilities of WFEL’s bridging systems.
Just eight soldiers and a single launch vehicle can get traffic moving over a 46-metre wet or dry gap in less than 90 minutes, using the new generation DSB Dry Support Bridge. With its Military Load Classification (MLC) of 120, this bridging system allows the heaviest of military vehicles to cross both wet and dry gaps. The DSB’s primary mission is emplacement on main supply routes in the rear of the area of direct combat, while its secondary mission is to support and maintain the momentum of attack, when water and dry-gap obstacles are encountered that exceed the capabilities of assault bridging assets.
WFEL’s Dry Support Bridges (DSB)
Around 200 DSB bridging systems have already been supplied to armed forces around the world. Already procured by the US, Australian, Turkish, Swiss and Philippines armed forces, WFEL’s DSB Dry Support Bridge is the longest non-reinforced bridge of its class anywhere in the world. Using an innovative launching mechanism, the system is versatile and can be adapted to fit to a variety of host vehicles commonly used by armed forces, including RMMV Rheinmetall MAN 10 x 10 fully armoured military vehicles, in response to the increasing threats faced by armed forces in today’s ever more complex military scenarios.
WFEL is the global leader in tactical military bridges, supplying over 40 armed forces across the world for more than four decades. The company design and manufacture the DSB Dry Support Bridge and the MGB Medium Girder Bridge. WFEL also has a significant involvement in the production of the Boxer Mechanised Infantry Vehicles for the British Army, as part of the £2.3bn contract signed in November 2019 with ARTEC. WFEL also provides value-added inspection, repairs and maintenance, spares and training services for our bridges, both in the field and at our UK engineering site, where we employ teams of highly skilled Engineers and Support staff.
WFEL’s Dry Support Bridges (DSB)
