BAE Systems has successfully demonstrated its new military Modular Bridging System.

BAE Systems has successfully demonstrated the safety and performance of its new Modular Bridging System to prove the bridge will remain robust and effective throughout its operational life whilst being subjected to the harsh conditions expected in military use. During testing, BAE Systems simulated more than 22,000 crossings of the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank on the system. These have the equivalent weight of 121,000 double-decker buses.

BR90 Bridging system (Picture source BAE Systems)

The British MoD (Ministry Of Defense) is currently running a program, TYRO, to source a replacement bridge system for BR90. BAE Systems is bidding its new Modular Bridging System to fulfill the requirement. A decision on the new system is expected in 2019.

Environmental tests were also completed successfully to prove the bridge will remain robust and effective throughout its operational life whilst being subjected to the harsh conditions expected in military use.

The results support BAE Systems’ bid to provide a new bridge system for the British Army and other export customers. The tests were carried out using BAE Systems’ Bridge Test Facility in Telford, the most advanced facility of its kind in Europe.

The Modular Bridging System is light enough to be transported by air and strong enough to withstand the weight of a Main Battle Tank. It is used by soldiers to rapidly undertake assault crossings, restore vital lifelines and military routes, as well as offer rapid replacement of civilian infrastructure in combat and disaster relief.

In addition, numerous smaller tests were also undertaken, with over 300,000 fatigue cycles carried out on individual components. Starting with pieces of metal the size of mobile phones and scaling up to whole bridge spans, engineers at BAE Systems were able to create stronger and more robust bridges than ever before.

The Modular Bridging System is used by soldiers to rapidly undertake assault crossings and restore vital lifelines and military routes. The all-encompassing 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 such as Challenger 2, equivalent to six double decker buses. 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.