The U.S. Army Contracting Command has awarded General Dynamics Land Systems a $26 million contract to build two Joint Assault Bridge (JAB) prototypes. General Dynamics Land Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics.

The Joint Assault Bridge program is a multi-service initiative to replace the existing Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge (AVLB) system that is currently available to U.S. forces.

The JAB system will be a fully tracked armored engineering vehicle specifically designed to provide Mobility Augmentation Companies with bridging capabilities allowing military vehicles to cross ravines or gorges in combat.

It will provide crew with protection and vehicle survivability equal to the M1A1 Abrams tank fleet and have the speed and mobility to keep pace with the maneuver force.

The JAB system will launch and recover the Army's hydraulically actuated Military Load Class Scissor Bridge.

Test support packages (TSP) will be delivered along with two JAB prototypes to the Army's Aberdeen Proving Grounds. The contract supports the JAB engineering and manufacturing development phase, and work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Mich., with an estimated completion date of August, 2014.