US to deliver for the first time to Ukraine eight Armored Vehicle Launched Bridges.

According to information published by the U.S. TV News Channel "WAGM-TV" on March 3, 2023, the United States Department of Defense will announce Friday, March 3, 2023, a new military aid package for Ukraine including for the first time eight Armored Vehicle Launched Bridges, a tank tracked chassis equipped with an 18m scissors-type bridge.
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U.S. South Carolina National Guard M60 Armored Vehicle Launch Bridge AVLB. (Picture source U.S. DoD)

Citing information from "WAGM-TV" a U.S. TV news channel, the new military aid package will be worth $400 million and will include eight Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge as well as ammunition for the M142 HIMARS rocket launcher vehicles.

On February 24, 2023, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced new military aid for Ukraine in the amount of $2 billion. In this package, the United States committed additional Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and counter-UAS and electronic warfare detection equipment, as well as critical ammunition stocks for artillery and precision fire capabilities that will bolster Ukraine's ability to repel the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The M60 AVLB Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge entered into service with the U.S. Army in 1963 using M60 or M60A1 tank tracked chassis. The original turret of the M60 has been removed and replaced by a launching system for the scissors bridge carried on top of the hull.

The AVLB is fitted with a hydraulic launching mechanism and an aluminum scissors bridge which is launched over the front of the vehicle and weighs 14,470 kg. The bridge takes 2 minutes to lay and when open has an overall length of 19.202 m and can span a gap of up to 18.288 m. It is designed to launch bridge for tanks and other wheeled combat vehicles across trenches and water obstacles in combat conditions.

An upgraded MLC70 bridge was developed for the AVLB during the 1990s in the US. Army Anniston Army Depot (ANAD) offering the capabilities to support the weight of M1 Abrams tanks.

The M60 AVLB has a crew of two including a driver and commander. The driver has controls to launch and retrieve the bridge. The AVLB has a combat weight of 53.3 tons with an overall length of 9.44 m, a width of 3.66 m, and a height of 3.3 m. It is powered by an AVDS-1790-2DR V12, air-cooled Twin-turbo diesel engine developing 750 hp. It can run at a maximum road speed of 48 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 470 km.

Defense News March 2023