According to information released on October 6, 2021, General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) has announced an agreement to provide the M3 Amphibious Bridge and Ferry System to Latvia. Latvia will be the newest NATO customer to receive the bridging system.
The contract was awarded to GDELS by the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Detroit Arsenal, which is managing the support to Latvia as it addresses needs for additional NATO wet-gap crossing solutions. Deliveries will also include an integrated logistics support package consisting of training, tools and manuals.
The M3 is a self-propelled, amphibious bridging vehicle that is used for the projection of tanks and other vehicles across water obstacles. The M3 is self-deployable by road, operating as a 4×4 wheeled vehicle with a maximum road speed of 80 km/h. Before it is driven into the water for an amphibious operation, two large aluminum pontoons are deployed, unfolding them along the length of its hull. The crew exits the vehicle cab to maneuver the pontoon using controls located on top of the hull. In water, the M3 is propelled and steered by 2 fully traversable pump jets at speeds of up to 14 km/h