Indian Army inducts indigenously built 46-meter-long modular bridge
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New Delhi, Feb 28: With an aim to bolster its bridging capabilities, the Indian Army inducted a 46-metre indigenously designed and manufactured modular bridge. It has been developed jointly by the Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and automobile firm Larsen & Toubro (L&T).
The induction ceremony was organised at the Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi and the bridging system was formally handed to the Indian Army in the presence of Army chief General Manoj Pande and senior officials of the Army and Larsen & Toubro.
What is modular bridge?
The modular bridge, described as a "mechanically-launched single-span, fully-decked 46-metre assault bridge," equips the Army to surmount obstacles like canals and ditches with unparalleled ease.
Known for its high mobility, rugged construction, and quick deployment and retrieval features, these bridges align seamlessly with the fast-paced nature of mechanised operations.
#IndianArmy further strengthened its bridging capability with the induction of 46-meter Modular Bridge. The bridging system, designed & developed by #DRDO and produced by Larsen & Toubro (L&T), was inducted in a ceremony, attended by General Manoj Pande #COAS and officials from… pic.twitter.com/1hDOFtJpb8
— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) February 27, 2024
The modular bridges, set to replace the manually-launched medium girder bridges (MGBs) currently in use, offer distinct advantages. These include an increased span, reduced construction time, and the ability for mechanical launching with retrieval capability.
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Each set of the modular bridge consists of "seven carrier vehicles based on 8x8 heavy mobility vehicles and two launcher vehicles based on 10x10 heavy mobility vehicles"
Highlighting the strategic importance of this development, an official stated, "Over the next four years, a total of 41 sets, valued at Rs 2,585 crore, will be progressively inducted. The first set was inducted on Tuesday".
"The induction of the modular bridge also highlights India's prowess in designing and developing advanced military equipment and underscores the country's commitment to Aatmanirbhar Bharat and self-reliance in defence production," Army said. The acquisition of these bridges not only enhances the Army's operational effectiveness, but also showcases India's growing prominence in defence technology and manufacturing, it added.
