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CANSEC 2019: Ground forces bridging the capability gap
ROBIN HUGHES
BAE Systems (Booth 713) is showcasing its Modular Bridging System (MBS) capability as a potential solution for the Canadian Army’s future Bridge and Gap Crossing Modernisation (BGCM) requirement.
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The BGCM project will deliver a suite of light, medium and heavy bridging capabilities to replace in‐service systems. Potential deliverables are: Short Support Bridges, Medium Support Bridges, Long Support Bridges, Heavy Assault Bridges, Line of Communication Bridges and Heavy Floating Bridges.
The MBS is used by ground forces to rapidly undertake assault crossings and restore vital lifelines and military routes. The design also offers rapid replacement of civilian infrastructure in combat and peacetime disaster relief. The system is light enough to be transported by air and lifted by helicopter, yet the bridge panels are strong enough to withstand the weight of main battle tanks, and during its lifetime, each bridging system is designed to withstand typically 10,000 crossings in its worst‐case load condition, for both tracked and wheeled vehicles and in extreme military environments.
BAE Systems’ MBS comprises both the General Support Bridge (GSB) and the Close Support Bridge (CSB) systems. Designed to span gaps in excess of 60m, the GSB is generally carried and launched from optionally armoured multi‐wheeled platforms, and comprises three main elements: an Automotive Bridge Launch Equipment (ABLE) vehicle; Bridging Vehicles (BVs) to carry and load bridge panels into the ABLE; and the Bridge System, a variety of bridge panels and equipment.
Designed to span gaps from 12 to 24.5m in a single span, and up to 64m in combination, the CSB comprises a tracked Armoured Vehicle Launch Bridge, a wheeled Tank Bridge Transport (TBT) platform, and the No. 10 26m medium assault, and No. 12 13.5m short assault, bridges. For the Canadian Army’s BGCM programme, BAE Systems is offering to tailor its GSB and CSB solutions to customer requirements in terms of vehicle platform utilisation.
