Australian Army procures bridge erection boats

BEB manoeuvres a floating bridge bay during wet-gap crossing operations; the platform is powered by twin waterjets to provide the thrust and manoeuvrability required for bridge assembly and stabilisation. (Birdon)

Australian defence manufacturer Birdon is supplying three ‘next-generation' bridge erection boats (BEBs) to the Australian Army, the company announced on 8 September.

According to Birdon, the three vessels were manufactured at its bridge erection boat facility and incorporate design developments derived from previous military bridging programmes.

Although not confirmed by the company, the vessels were likely manufactured at Birdon's headquarter at Port Macquarie in New South Wales, which is responsible for shipbuilding, sustainment, marine engineering, and logistics operations.

“The latest vessels incorporate enhancements arising from years of operational feedback and design evolution, reflecting lessons learned from supporting military bridging operations across a range of environments and user requirements,” Birdon said.

However, the company did not disclose the value of the contract or the delivery schedule for the BEBs.

The procurement builds on the Australian Army's bridge erection propulsion boat (BEPB) programme, which started in 2003. Birdon said that it delivered 24 vessels to the Australian Army under the 2003 programme, forming the basis of the army's current bridge-support boat capability.

According to Birdon, the company remains responsible for sustaining the Australian Army's bridge erection vessel capability. In addition to developing and constructing the in-service BEPB fleet, Birdon provides ongoing maintenance, upgrades, obsolescence management, and logistics support.