An MGB with safety rails

WFEL confirms DSB as world's longest unreinforced bridge

15 February 2010
New tests of the bridge – which has been in operation since 2003 – have established it as the longest unreinforced tactical military bridge ever made.

WFEL, the UK-based defence engineering firm has announced that its M18 Dry Support Bridge (DSB) is now capable of taking loads of 120 tons over 46m.

The DSB can be assembled and dissembled by 8 soldiers in 90 minutes from a single launch vehicle.

Developed in conjunction with the US Department of Defense (DoD), the DSB can be fitted to the chassis of a range of military vehicles such as the IVECO vehicle and US Army Oshkosh vehicle.

Designs for the DSB were produced in the late 1990s for the DoD after it launched a contest to develop the next generation of tactical military bridging.

The DSB has been used in the USA, South Korea and during operation Iraqi Freedom.

WFEL expects in excess of over 100 new DSB systems to have been deployed within the next 10 years, as the business begins to target new territories.

Ian Wilson, managing director of WFEL, said: "Since winning the DoD contract we have continued to improve and innovate our range of tactical military bridges.

"WFEL is recognised globally for its engineering expertise in the defence sector. The continued development and deployment of the DSB shows that we continue to provide support for all our customers."