Birdon America Inc. has been selected as a part of the Netherland Armed Forces Next Generation Wide Wet Gap Crossing solution. Birdon will build Bridge Erection Boats (BEB) for General Dynamic European Land Systems (GDELS).

GDELS was awarded the Netherlands contract for three sets of Wide Fap Crossing systems, made up of the Improved Ribbon Bridge (IRB), Bridge Adaptor Pallets (BAP), and Birdon Bridge Erection Boats. This award solidifies the combined Birdon GDLES bridging system as the global standard for Wide Wet Gap Crossings and the go-to solution for NATO allies that require interoperability, reliability, efficiency, and performance when it matters the most.

Birdon has established a successful track record designing and manufacturing BEBs for the Australian, Brazilian, and US Army. Globally, Birdon has delivered 423 BEBs, the bulk of which have been manufactured in its production facility in northeast Denver. The Netherland BEBs, also to be manufactured in Denver, will feature increased capability for acclimate conditions including an icebreaker bow, new docking and fendering systems, and reduced maintenance and downtime upgrades for maximal operational availability.

Birdon’s work to develop Wide Wet Gap Crossing solutions with GDELS and end users continues to prove that partnership between industry and military enables significant growth of capability within the fastest possible time frame. Birdon will include customer specific modifications to the BEB and will deliver and field the first sets of equipment during 2024.