Detecting buried explosive and unexploded ordnance in areas of former conflict that is being returned to the local community is always challenging.
The worry about the risks posed by hidden UXO delays and hampers the handover of land for civilian use and understandably, the ground needs to be carefully swept for UXO and any discoveries must be safely removed and disposed of before allowing any civilian access and domestic use.
Depending on the type of ordnance and the environment in which it has been laid, sometimes local conditions can make it even more challenging to detect, for example, when devices have been hidden in the ground, and the area has since grown a dense covering of scrubland.
The depth that some types of UXO can be found at also makes land clearance even more difficult such as air delivered ordnance which might come to rest several metres beneath the surface. Some ordnance, such as anti-vehicle landmines, will be targeted at disabling vehicles, so it won't be triggered by the weight of human minesweeping teams passing over the land but if there is a threat of these devices, adversaries will often place anti-personnel mines around them to enhance the obstacle during clearance.
The risks will remain for any civilian construction vehicles or farming machinery moving onto the land to perform earth penetrating actions such as ploughing for crops or excavating for building construction and laying infrastructure.
Utilising remote-controlled demining machines
Armtrac Limited is a privately owned manufacturer of explosive ordnance disposal machinery and equipment that is based in Cambridgeshire in Eastern England. We design and build a unique range of mechanical demining machines and offer manned and unmanned solutions for safe and effective land clearance projects worldwide.
We specialise in designing demining machines and equipment that can be used safely to clear areas contaminated by landmines and other unexploded explosive ordnance. These machines also provide a rapid means of Technical Survey in Land Release Operations.
One of our most popular crewless ground clearance vehicles is the Armtrac 20T C-IED Robot Mk2, which delivers an efficient, flexible, and cost-effective solution that puts human safety at the forefront.
Armtrac 20T C-IED Robot Mk2 Unmanned Ground Vehicle
The Armtrac 20T C-IED Robot offers a compact and versatile solution for your land clearance needs. It is a small, (heavy) armoured tracked vehicle operated by remote control from a safe distance to eliminate the risk of loss of life or severe injury to your ground crew.
The vehicle can be fitted with various flexible tools to tackle awkward demining situations where human interaction could prove fatal, such as clearing ordnance hidden in dense scrubland and steeply banked terrain.
You can fit a demining flail or tiller to the front of the vehicle and, simultaneously, have a robotic arm attached to the rear that can be equipped with various tools and attachments. The versatility and adaptability of the Armtrac 20T C-IED Robot makes it an invaluable asset for any land clearance or Technical Survey operation in areas of former conflict.
The vehicle can also be mounted with a detector system for C-IED operations and include an IED disruptor fitted to the rear robotic arm.
For repairs and spares, the Armtrac 20T C-IED Robot uses hydraulic hoses and couplings that are easily sourced from international suppliers. The vehicle runs on a 74 HP diesel water-cooled Kohler engine, which will run for several hours without the need to refuel.
The Armtrac 20T Robot is recommended for:
- Conventional Demining & EO Clearance Operations
- Counter-IED Operations
- Mechanical demining where there is restricted access for larger mechanical equipment
- Mechanical Surrogate Scout for Dismounted Foot Patrols
- Small clearance operations & area reduction
- Support to C-IED operations
- Support to Route Clearance operations
- Surface/Sub-surface IED Disposal
- Technical Survey and EO Reconnaissance
- Vegetation cutting before manual or canine-assisted demining
If you would like further information about the Armtrac 20T C-IED Robot or any other demining vehicle in the Armtrac range, do not hesitate to contact us. We also offer comprehensive field support and training to help you get the most from your Armtrac vehicles.
We also offer demining machines on a daily hire/lease basis if you prefer to hire the equipment you need rather than purchasing it. Get in touch with our team to discuss your needs.
