Home Europe Poland orders new pontoon bridges from France’s CNIM

Poland orders new pontoon bridges from France’s CNIM

Floating bridge for Polish Army
Photo: CNIM

Poland’s defense procurement agency has signed a contract with France’s CNIM Systèmes Industriels for the delivery of pontoon bridges for the Polish Army.

Signed on June 15 in Warsaw, the contract is worth 1.5 billion Poland złoty (approx. $336M) and foresees the delivery of a 100 meters of motorized floating bridges for wet gap crossing to be completed by 2026.

The price of a single set is 115 million złoty ($25M), the defense ministry revealed.

“The latest generation of the PFM motorized floating bridge meets the needs of today’s modern armed forces in both a continual floating bridge configuration and a ferry configuration supporting the latest heaviest vehicles,” Xavier Montazel, CNIM systems business unit director, said.

The PFM has been operational for years in the forces, with more than 5,500 meters of bridges in operation around the world, according to CNIM.

The system will enable the mobility of the Polish armed forces, including the safe crossing of the new Abrams M1A2 SEPV3 main battle tank the country is buying from the US. Poland expects to receive the first of these MBTs this year.

The contract with CNIM also includes a training package, development of documentation with the transfer of a license, and delivery of spare and repair parts kits.

One set of the pontoon park will include, among others: 12 transport sets consisting of a Jelcz armored tractor unit and semi-trailers, 1 Jelcz truck and passenger, 8 pontoon blocks with drive motors, 4 ramps and equipment, as well as tools and devices securing the construction, maintenance and operation of the crossing.