General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS) has announced the selection of Patria Latvia, a subsidiary of the Finnish defense and technology company Patria, to provide maintenance and repair services for the M3 amphibious pontoon bridge system, expanding its industrial cooperation footprint in the Baltic region.
In a statement on July 8, GDELS said the work will be carried out at Patria Latvia’s facilities in Valmiera. A delegation from Patria Latvia has already visited GDELS facilities to review the assigned project, underscoring what the company described as an effective industrial cooperation model.
“The M3 system is another example of the high-quality military solutions produced by GDELS,” said Alejandro Page, Vice President of GDELS Santa Bárbara Sistemas. “We are pleased to extend our cooperation with Patria Group’s Latvian unit in Valmiera, which has been initiated in the course of the award of ASCOD tracked Infantry Fighting Vehicles – the ‘Baltic Hunter’ – by the Latvian Government. The M3 systems will complement the existing cooperation on the assembly and servicing of ASCOD vehicles, contribute to the security of supply chain that GDELS is developing in the country, and become a strong component of Latvia’s defense industry.”
The M3 amphibious system enables the transport of armored vehicles across water obstacles, either in ferry mode or as a mobile pontoon bridge. Each M3 unit measures 12.8 meters in length, nearly 4 meters in height, and weighs 28 tonnes. Operated by a two- or three-person crew, the system has a payload capacity exceeding 120 tonnes. GDELS noted its versatility for both military operations and civil defense applications.
“This cooperation in the field of M3 amphibious pontoon bridge system servicing and maintenance marks the next step in strengthening our partnership with GDELS and the National Armed Forces, complementing our existing collaboration related to assembly and lifecycle support for ASCOD infantry fighting vehicles,” said Uģis Romanovs, Chairman of the Board at Patria Latvia and Defence Partnership Latvia. “This also demonstrates our company’s capabilities and technological expertise in ensuring the rapid and reliable operation of complex military equipment.”
The Latvian National Armed Forces currently operate four M3 systems, which were acquired with full funding provided by the U.S. Government under its grant program.