Multi-Million Pound Bridges For Australian Military Near Completion

A British firm are close to completing a multi-million-pound bridge designed for the Australian Army.  

Stockport-based WFEL are close to completing the final Dry Support Bridge, part of a £53 million contract with Australia.

The firm was visited by Minister for Defence Procurement Stuart Andrew who witnessed a 90-minute demo build of a 46-metre Dry Support Combat Bridge.

WFEL Managing Director, Ian Anderton, told Forces News: "This [Dry Support Combat Bridge] was developed in the early 2000s to give a global customer base a new requirement.

"It's a semi-automated retrieval process, so this bridge is the leading bridge system of its kind in the world.

"In fact, it's the only bridge system that's been taken by any global government over the past 15 years.

"It can expand over 46 metres and can take a weight of about 120 tonnes."

The full order has taken around three years to be completed, Mr Anderton said: "The order covers several different systems, both the dry support bridge but also some of our medium geared bridges...and also some pier and spans which can go much greater distances over rivers and lakes and so on. 

"[It] is the last of the bridges that are going to be shipped out [to Australia] so it's really an important moment for us."

Bridges are used in the military to help personnel and equipment make their way through challenging terrain, as well as being used in natural disasters to reach those in need.

The bridge being constructed.

The £53 million deal signed with the Australians has seen WFEL amass £600m-worth of exports over the last 10 years.

Mr Andrew described the firm as "a model for how companies across the country can thrive on the global stage" at a time when defence exports have increased by over 50% to £9bn.

Head of Australian Defence Staff London, Air Commodore Brian Edwards said:

"This project introduces into service the latest addition to the Australian Army’s suite of combat bridging.

Once the Australian order is completed, WFEL will then focus on completing contracts it has set up with the US Army. The firm has previously built 116 military bridges for the US.

Australia recently chose BAE Systems, also a British firm, to build nine Type 26 warships, in a deal that could be worth up to £20 billion.