WFEL extends relationship with Turkish Forces at IDEF
WFEL’s relationship with Turkey began in 2008 with an £8.5 million order for the company’s next generation portable bridging system, the Dry Support Bridge (DSB).
The contract, which was completed in 2011, included the procurement of OshKosh vehicles on which Turkey transports and launches its DSBs, as well as a comprehensive training programme delivered on location.
The DSB is the world’s longest unreinforced tactical military bridge and can span gaps of up to 46 metres. Able to withstand repeated crossings of up to MLC120, it can be deployed by a team of eight in under 90 minutes, making it one of the most efficient systems on the market.
In addition to being employed by armed forces in combat situations, the DSB can also be used to provide tactical bridging in civilian disaster emergency relief operations, such as the Japanese tsunami in 2011.
Ian Wilson, chief executive of WFEL, said: “Our original agreement with Turkey typified the end-to-end service offering we can deliver, from manufacturing the bridges to procuring the launch vehicles and then offering training to new users on the ground.
“At IDEF we looked to build on our strong history with the country and tap into new opportunities with other territories with a requirement for tactical bridging assets.”
