Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency (Forsvarsmateriell) has received the first amphibious bridge and ferry system M3N from General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS). The handover took place on Wednesday in Kaiserslautern, Germany. The contract is worth 1.2 billion Norwegian kroner.
"The handover of a brand new amphibious bridge and ferry system represents a reinforcement and a much-needed renewal of this important capability for the defence sector," says Norway's Minister of Defence, Tore O. Sandvik.
This is according to a press release from the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency. Deliveries of the new vehicles are planned to run from autumn 2026 to 2028. As NDS previously reported, the contract with GDELS was signed in November 2025.
According to the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency, the Norwegian configuration corresponds to Sweden's amphibious system, which has allowed production to proceed more quickly.
"This is the fastest delivery ever of this complex military capability to a nation. It shows what can be achieved when industry and nations work closely together, with a shared understanding of the purpose," says Tomas Beck, Head of Land and Joint Capabilities at the Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency.
The M3N can carry all NATO vehicles and function both as a floating bridge and as a ferry, including for heavy main battle tanks. The vehicle has a top speed of 80 km/h on roads and, according to the agency, is suited to all climate zones, particularly Arctic conditions.
Norway is the sixth NATO member state and the third Nordic Defence Cooperation (NORDEFCO) country to select the M3 system. The system's interoperability allows units from different countries to use each other's M3 systems. According to a press release from GDELS, the M3 can also operate in conjunction with the distributed pontoon bridge system SRB/FSB/IRB. The Norwegian Defence Materiel Agency is providing the Army with operator training and technical training ahead of the handovers.