WFEL has signed a contract with the Irish Defence Forces for the provision of its 31m double storey Medium Girder Bridging system (MGB), which can be erected in various configurations to cover the full range of military and emergency bridging requirements.
The Corps of Engineers (the military engineering branch of the Defence Forces of Ireland) will take delivery of the new MGB system, which will be supplied complete with handrails, making the system adaptable for use during military operations and in Disaster Relief and Emergency scenarios.
The Corps is responsible for combat engineering and construction engineering services, providing engineering on the battlefield and has successfully leveraged its skill and expertise in several of the Irish Army’s deployments on United Nations operations.
“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,” said Colonel Damian McEvoy, Director of Engineering for the Irish Defence Forces. “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.”
A full support and training package is included in the contract, with delivery expected by the end of 2023.
“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,” said Tom Winney, Business Development Director at WFEL. “We are seeing increased interest in our MGB bridging systems worldwide, due to their modular and versatile nature, as forces worldwide recognize the need for rapid gap-crossing capability to ensure unrestricted maneuver for vehicles of up to 70 tons.”
