Indian Army Issues RFI for Upgraded Ponton Modular System Assault Bridges

The Indian Army has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to acquire upgraded PMS (Ponton Modular System) Assault Bridges, marking another step in its effort to strengthen battlefield mobility and engineering capabilities.

These PMS Assault Bridges play a vital role in helping mechanised and infantry units quickly cross obstacles such as rivers, canals, and ditches, ensuring rapid troop and vehicle movement during both offensive and defensive operations.

The upgraded systems are expected to bring several key improvements, including longer span length, faster deployment, enhanced mechanical launching and retrieval systems, greater ruggedness, and better mobility to match the pace of modern mechanised forces. These upgrades aim to ensure seamless movement even in challenging and diverse terrain conditions.

In recent years, the Indian Army inducted mechanically-launched 46-metre modular assault bridges developed by DRDO and produced by Larsen & Toubro. Mounted on 8×8 and 10×10 heavy-mobility vehicles, these bridges replaced older manually-launched Medium Girder Bridges, greatly improving deployment speed and operational efficiency.

The new RFI indicates plans to build on this proven design, but with further technological enhancements to support fast-paced, high-mobility operations. The initiative also aligns with India’s goals of defence modernisation, self-reliance, and indigenisation, ensuring that future bridging systems are not only more advanced but also domestically developed and produced.

In simple terms, after introducing the 46-metre modular bridges, the Army now wants an even better version—faster, tougher, and more adaptable—to meet the demands of modern warfare.