NDMA confirmed that the contract will deliver the new amphibious vehicles to the Army between autumn 2026 and 2028. The wheeled amphibious M3 can operate as a floating bridge or ferry, can drive directly into the water, and has a top road speed of 80 kilometres per hour.
“In cooperation with the supplier and the Swedish Armed Forces, we have brought this contract for the Army’s bridge and ferry system forward in record time,” said Gro Jære, director of Forsvarsmateriell. “The amphibious vehicles can be deployed on water in under ten minutes by a small crew of two to three soldiers, and can transport tanks and heavy vehicles across rivers and fjords.”
Several M3 vehicles can be coupled to form heavy ferries or full floating bridges. The system is designed to transport all NATO vehicles, ensuring shared use with allied forces and supporting NATO’s wider initiative to improve military mobility across Europe.
The M3 has been used by NATO countries for decades in environments ranging from Arctic conditions to desert and tropical regions. “One of the most important advantages of the M3 vehicle is its shared use with other NATO forces. It allows easier cooperation, joint training and logistics coordination, and contributes to more effective combined operations,” said Jære.
GDELS specialises in amphibious bridging systems and military mobility solutions and has supplied more than 90 per cent of NATO’s amphibious bridge capability. Six NATO member states will now operate the M3, further strengthening interoperability across the alliance.
Germany and the United Kingdom also ordered a new generation of the M3 in October through the Joint Organisation for Armaments Cooperation to replace their existing fleets.
