General Dynamics to modernize US Army REBS Rapidly Emplaced Bridging Systems.

According to a contract released by the United States Department of Defense on December 17, 2021, General Dynamics European Land Systems-Bridge Systems, Kaiserslautern, Germany, was awarded a $20,811,869 firm-fixed-price contract for the modernization of the Rapidly Emplaced Bridging System of the U.S. Army.
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U.S. soldiers from the Mobility Support Platoon of the 38th Engineer Company, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division “Raiders” position the Rapidly Emplaced Bridge System for a gap-crossing operation. (Picture source U.S. DoD)

The Rapidly Emplaced Bridge System (REBS) is a vehicle-mounted, power-launched aluminum bridge system developed by the General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) for the US Army. It was designed to provide U.S. Army Stryker and Airborne Infantry Brigade Combat Teams’ Combat Engineer Companies a rapidly employed gap-crossing capability to enhance mobility and maintain pace with maneuver forces.

The Bridge laying system of the REBS is transported, launched, and retrieved with an M1977 Common Bridge Transporter. It consists of a hydraulically powered launch and recovery pallet and a two-section horizontally-launched bridge. The REBS can also be transported on an M1067 Palletized Load System Trailer (PLST). A crew of two can deploy the REBS within 10 minutes. The REBS can support normal crossings up to 13 meters for Military Load Classification (MLC) 40 tracked and wheeled vehicles (MLC 50 wheeled under caution).

The horizontally free-launched REBS system is operated by a crew of two. The remotely controlled hydraulic launching and retrieving sequence is carried out from the truck-mounted bridge adapter pallet using an integrated launcher.

The M1977 Common Bridge Transporter (CBT) is a modified M977 Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck equipped with a Load Handling System. The M1977 CBT was designed to support the Engineer Corps in transporting all bridging assets. The M1977 CBT loads, launches and retrieves the Standard Ribbon Bridge, Improved Ribbon Bridge and new Bridge Erection Boat utilizing the Bridge Adapter Pallet. It is equipped with a winch to assist in retrieving the deployed equipment. The CBT also transports and launches the Heavy Dry Support Bridge and Rapidly Emplaced Bridge System in Stryker Brigades.