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The UK-based defence contractor has been tapped to supply its deployable military bridges to a neighbouring military.
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WFEL has won a contract for the supply of the MGB Medium Girder Bridging System to the Irish Defence Force.
Specifically, the company has been tasked with delivering its 31m double storey MGB variant, designed to be erected in various configurations to cover a range of military and emergency bridging requirements.
The system is expected to include handrails, supporting the system’s use during both military operations and in disaster relief and emergency scenarios.
This builds on decades of work with the Irish military, which has deployed the MGB Medium Girder Bridging System since the late 1970s.
Ireland’s Corps of Engineers is set to accept the new MGB bridging into service.
The division is responsible for combat engineering and construction engineering services, providing engineering on the battlefield and contributing to the Irish Army’s deployments on United Nations operations.
Colonel Damian McEvoy, director of engineering for the Irish Defence Forces, welcomed the delivery of the new deployable bridging capability.
“As long-time users of the Medium Girder Bridge system, we are already familiar with its many benefits and, by updating our bridging assets with the latest version of the MGB, we will continue to be equipped with the most versatile, modular bridging system available, allowing our engineering division to rapidly react to situations both on and off the battlefield,” he said.
“Of particular importance to us is the lightweight nature of the MGB system, not only for reducing transportation weight, but to enable the bridge components to be handled by our troops without the need for mechanical aids.”
This latest contract also includes the provision of training upon delivery of the capability by the end of 2023.
WFEL is currently supplying 17 sets of its MGB Medium Girder Bridges to the UK Ministry of Defence.
"We are delighted to be working closely with the Irish Defence Force once again and refreshing their military bridging stocks with the latest MGB systems, to provide vital engineer capabilities,” Tom Winney, business development director at WFEL, said.
“We are seeing increased interest in our MGB bridging systems worldwide, due to their modular and versatile nature, as forces worldwide recognise the need for rapid gap-crossing capability to ensure unrestricted manoeuvre for vehicles of up to 70 tonnes.”
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