Joint Assault Bridge

The Joint Assault Bridge (JAB) program is a critical Army procurement initiative under budget line item 5225GZ3001. It is designed to replace legacy gap-crossing vehicles and enhance the operational mobility of armored forces. The program's primary goal is to deliver the M1110 Joint Assault Bridge, which is based on the M1A1 Abrams chassis and equipped with a heavy suspension system from the M1A2 Abrams. This vehicle launches and retrieves an 18.3-meter Heavy Assault Scissor Bridge (HASB), rated for Military Load Classification (MLC) 115 tons, enabling armored units to traverse significant obstacles during combat operations.

The objectives of the JAB program focus on procurement and fielding of modern bridging capabilities for Army Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCT), Brigade Engineer Battalions (BEB), Engineer Mobility Augmentation Companies (MAC), and Combat Engineer Companies - Armored (CEC-A). The program seeks to address survivability, suitability, and supportability requirements that are not met by the older M104 Wolverine and M48A5/M60 AVLB systems. By providing reliable gap-crossing capability, the JAB ensures maneuver forces maintain operational tempo and flexibility in contested environments.

Production and integration of the JAB involve a partnership between Anniston Army Depot (ANAD) and the prime contractor, Leonardo DRS. ANAD is responsible for producing the Abrams chassis and upgrading AVLBs to the MLC-115 HASB standard. Leonardo DRS integrates the Bridge Launch Mechanism (BLM), Armor Protection kits, and Mounted Family of Computer Systems (MFoCS). The program also includes procurement of Common Driver Trainers (simulators) to support operator training and readiness.

In FY 2026, the budget supports procurement of JABs under the base budget and additional vehicles funded through Overseas Operations Costs (OOC) in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve. These funds support vehicle acquisition, long lead material purchases, production efforts at ANAD, and associated support equipment and fielding activities. The program's acquisition objective is set at 297 vehicles, with procurement quantities and funding distributed across active Army and Army National Guard units to ensure both homeland defense and overseas operational capabilities.

The JAB program has completed key milestones, including Initial Operational Test (IOT) in November 2020. Type Classification-Standard (TC-STD) and Full Rate Production (FRP) approval were achieved in March 2021, followed by Full Materiel Release in April 2023. These achievements validate the system's readiness for widespread deployment and support the Army's modernization strategy. The program's cost structure reflects recurring hardware production, engineering changes, program management, support equipment, fielding, and transportation, with unit costs benefiting from contract extensions and quantity-based pricing adjustments.

Justification for the JAB program is rooted in the need to maintain and enhance the Army's gap-crossing capability, which is essential for maneuver and survivability in both combat and domestic emergency scenarios. Section 1815 of the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Act underscores the importance of such capabilities for both active and reserve components, supporting homeland defense missions and military assistance to civil authorities. Without the JAB, armored forces would face significant limitations in movement and maneuver, adversely affecting operational effectiveness.