Germany to Provide Ukraine with 16 BIBER Armored Bridge-Laying Vehicles

German Federal Minister Lambrecht has given the green light for the delivery of 16 BIBER Armoured Bridge-Laying Vehicles to bolster the capabilities of the Ukrainian Land Forces. The delivery of the initial six systems is set to commence later this year, starting in the fall, with an additional ten systems planned for the following year.

This comprehensive package not only includes sixteen armored bridge-laying vehicles but also encompasses transport, repair, and training support. The introduction of the BIBER vehicles into the Ukrainian military arsenal will significantly enhance their capacity to surmount water obstacles and battlefield obstructions.

This announcement comes on the heels of Germany’s approval of a request from the defense company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann to manufacture 100 Panzerhaubitze 2000 howitzers for the Ukrainian army, underlining Germany’s commitment to strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities.

BIBER Armoured Bridge-Laying Vehicle

The BIBER, known as the “Beaver,” is a German-made bridge-laying tank falling under the combat support vehicle category. It is built upon the chassis of the Leopard 1. The BIBER’s hull closely resembles that of the Leopard 1 Main Battle Tank (MBT), albeit without the original turret.

In addition to the German Armed Forces, the BIBER is utilized by the armed forces of various nations, including Australia, Chile, Denmark, Italy (with 64 units produced by OTO-Melara), Canada, the Netherlands, and Poland, with a total inventory of 145 vehicles. This highly mobile and rapidly deployable assault bridge can span both natural and man-made obstacles on the battlefield.

German Army BIBER Armoured Bridge-Laying Vehicles

The BIBER bridge-laying tank, equipped with a rapid tank bridge of the same name, is designed to conquer obstacles in various terrains, including bodies of water and gorges up to 20 meters wide during combat, contingent on the terrain’s characteristics. The rapid armored bridge measures 22 meters in length, 4 meters in width, and can be laid out under armor protection within 2 to 3 minutes. It weighs approximately 9.94 tons and is approved for military load class (MLC) 60, supporting loads of up to approximately 55 tons. The crew comprises two soldiers: the driver and the commander. While the bridge-layer is unarmed, it features a smoke device.

The hull of the BIBER bridge layer closely resembles that of the Leopard 1 MBT. This military vehicle is powered by the MTU MB 838 CA-500 multi-fuel diesel engine, producing 830 hp. Field replacement of the engine and transmission can be accomplished within 20 minutes. The torsion bar suspension consists of seven road wheels. Additionally, a front-mounted hydraulic stabilizer blade can be employed as a dozer blade for preparing the bridging site, although this task is typically handled by other engineering vehicles.

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