General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) has signed a contract worth 1.2 billion Norwegian kroner (118.3 million dollars) to supply Norway with the latest generation M3 amphibious bridge and ferry system. With this procurement, Norway joins Sweden and Denmark as the third Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO) member to include the M3 in its inventory.
A New Step in Scandinavian Defense Cooperation
According to information provided by the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (NDMA), the Norwegian Army will receive the new M3 vehicles between the fall of 2026 and 2028.
This agreement not only deepens the partnership within Scandinavia, but also strengthens the system’s NATO-wide significance by increasing the total number of NATO member states that will use the M3 system to six.
NDMA Director General Gro Jære emphasized the speed of the procurement process, saying: “In cooperation with the supplier and the Swedish Armed Forces, we secured the bridge and ferry system contract for the Army in record time.”
M3: The Key to Strategic Mobility
The M3 amphibious system is designed to provide fast and effective river-crossing capability, which is vital for modern armies.
- The system supports the transport of all NATO vehicles, including main battle tanks, and can perform both bridging and ferry operations.
- Deploying a 100-meter bridge using the M3 takes less than 10 minutes.
- The vehicle can reach speeds of up to 80 km/h on the road, and in water it has full maneuverability thanks to its dual 360-degree rotating water-jet pumps, allowing it to move at speeds between 9 and 14 km/h.
Growing Global Interest Continues
Norway’s acquisition is one of the latest examples demonstrating global interest in the M3 system.
- Germany and the United Kingdom signed a contract in October 2025 worth over 450 million euros for a joint M3 procurement.
- The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) also ordered nine additional M3 systems from GDELS in September 2024.
SOURCE: C4Defence
