DAPA unveils Tactical Bridge II prototype boosting military efficiency in Korea DAPA introduces new military bridge design enhancing operational speed in defense sectors
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DAPA unveils Tactical Bridge II prototype boosting military efficiency in Korea
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) announced on the 8th that it held a ceremony for the delivery of the Tactical Bridge II prototype in Eumseong, Chungcheongbuk-do, in collaboration with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Army, the Defense Technology Quality Agency, and the Defense Technology Promotion Agency.
A tactical bridge is a temporary bridge designed to allow passage over broken bridges or ravines during wartime. Heavy equipment such as tanks must pass through quickly.
The Tactical Bridge II prototype delivered that day was developed using high-performance raw material technology in collaboration with domestic steel manufacturers since 2022.
According to DAPA, the Tactical Bridge II prototype has reduced installation time and operational personnel by about 60-70% compared to existing easy-to-assemble bridges, and the load capacity has increased by 15%.
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DAPA plans to make a final decision on its deployment after a performance verification test evaluation over the next 1 year and 5 months.
Cho Hun-hee, head of DAPA's Mobility Business Division, noted that this will serve as an opportunity to enhance the military's operational capability.
Tactical bridge is temporary bridges that allow troops to quickly cross bridges and gullies that the enemy has destroyed to impede their maneuvers. It is a key piece of equipment that is essential for successful operations in the mountainous and riverine terrain of the Korean Peninsula.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff initiated the Next Generation Tactical Bridge program in 2003. The ROC set the bridge length at 60 meters. It is the longest in the world. The military set the ROC at 60 meters based on the estimated range of damage to wartime bridges by the U.S. and South Korean allies. Hyundai Rotem, a defense company, took up the challenge, but failed to install the bridge due to defects in six test evaluations from 2009 to 2013. The Korea Institute of Defense Technology and Quality held a technical review committee and concluded that it would be difficult for a domestic company to develop it. The following year,Hyundai Rotem was notified of the termination of the contract and recovered a total investment of 20.4 billion won, including 16.27 billion won in down payment, 1.8 billion won in deposit, and 2.36 billion won in interest. In other words, 11 years after the Joint Chiefs of Staff requested the project, the development had not come to fruition.
In the end, the Joint Chiefs of Staff reduced the length of the bridge: 'Block-I' was 44 meters long and 'Block-II' was 52 meters long. This time, a construction equipment company, not a defense company, was brought together to develop the bridge. Cheongam ENC was responsible for the bridge assembly, Hyundai Everdigm for the temporary vehicle, and SNT, an aluminum specialist, for the temporary beam. The tactical bridge developed is called Block-I. The agency will conduct a performance verification test and evaluation over the next 17 months before deciding whether to deploy it in the field. Mass production is scheduled for 2028. If Block-I is deployed, it is expected to reduce bridge installation time and manpower by 60 to 70 percent. The DAPA plans to develop Block-II by next year.
